Imaging Brazil 237: Berimbaus in Olinda, PE (2009)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

237: Berimbaus

There was a small outdoor market in the cozy historic center of Olinda. Several dozen stalls were full of a wide range of crafts and utensils. Most of this merchandise was typical for this region. A handful of vendors tried to sell their own works of art to the public: small paintings, miniatures of houses and folkloric scenes, crocheted and knitted dresses, and colorful handbags. There was a stall that just caught my attention: berimbaus were offered for sale. These stringed instruments, with an open calabash as a sounding board, are common as the accompanying instrument in capoeira. The man showed me how to play this instrument: with a smooth stone, the string is stirred into a steady rhythm. Indeed, I managed to produce a nice sound, but it wasn’t easy to keep the rhythm. Not bad, for the first time.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2009, 2017

IMAGES OF BRAZIL: SELEXION 2005 – 014

A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2005.

Part 14:
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Water mirror image
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Capoeira
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Capoeira
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Capoeira

Belo Horizonte (MG) – Water mirror image

Belo Horizonte (MG) – Capoeira 

Belo Horizonte (MG) – Capoeira

Belo Horizonte (MG) – Capoeira

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2016

IMAGES OF BRAZIL: SELEXION 2005 – 013

A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2005.

Part 13:
Belo Horizonte (MG) – No graffiti, please!
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Capoeira
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Capoeira
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Capoeira

Belo Horizonte (MG) – No graffiti, please!

Belo Horizonte (MG) – Capoeira 

Belo Horizonte (MG) – Capoeira

Belo Horizonte (MG) – Capoeira

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2016

IMAGES OF BRAZIL: SELEXION 2005 – 003

A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2005.

Part 3:
Recife (PE) – Capoeira Practice
Recife (PE) – Maracatu
Recife (PE) – Marco Zéro
Recife (PE) – Carnival Photographer

Recife (PE) – Capoeira practice

Recife (PE) – Maracatu

Recife (PE) – Marco Zéro

Recife (PE) – Carnival photographer

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2016

Imaging Brazil 074: Capoeira in Salvador, BA (2006)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

074. Capoeira

JULY 2006: Capoeira

In Salvador, we were hosted by the local Federal University, the UFBA. During our first evening in Salvador, we were invited to watch demonstrations of aspects of the local culture. First of all, we all joined to have the traditional acarajé snack: a deep-fried snack made from peeled black-eyed peas, and filled with a pasta with onions, and shrimps. That night, I got acquainted with the candomblé rituals. Those rituals had been introduced by African slaves and their descendants. Another slave’s legacy is the capoeira, a kind of martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music. For the slaves, it was strictly forbidden to wear and use weapons; therefore, the slaves developed a different kind of martial art, in which footwork plays an important role. A professional capoeira demonstration is breathtaking to watch. The tightly controlled acrobatic moves, with which they are apparently hitting each other, but in fact they really try to avoid touching each other. One of the most impressive moves was the somersault as demonstrated in the picture. I was lucky to have taken the picture at the right time, when this performer was still doing his somersault, as if he was hovering, just thirty centimeters above the floor!

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2006, 2014

Imaging Brazil 018: Capoeira in Belo Horizonte, MG (2005)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

018. Capoeira

JUNE 2005: Capoeira

Back in Belo Horizonte, I encountered a group of capoeira dancers in Parque Municipal (Municipal Park). The dancers were accompanied by typical music instruments, among which the berimbau. One by one, the dancers entered the circle to challenge their friends already dancing in the circle. The audience clearly enjoyed their acrobatic and rhythmic performances. I was amazed to watch a teenager dancing with the same acrobatic skills as his adult opponents.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2005, 2014