Basic Movements
In Capoiera there are five basic movements that form the foundation of the dance/martial art. All of the movements require a combination of strength, agility, flexibility, and balance.
Ginga
Spinning Kicks
Frontal Kicks
Floor Transitioning
Escapes
The dance is not performed by anyone in particular, but the individual themselves. While all the participants are connected by a common background or ancestry, each dancer has their own story to tell with the combination of movements that they perform.
Ginga
Ginga is the first skill that dancers learn and is the most basic blocking technique.
Spinning Kicks/Frontal Kicks
Spinning kicks allow the participants to attack while staying within the boundaries of the circular playing field. There are multiple variations of these including:
-Meia lua de frente
-Meia lua de compas
-Armada
-Queixada
Frontal kicks are a direct way of attack that forces the dancer to momentarily pause, leaving them open and vulnerable.
Floor Transitioning
Transitional movements on the floor allow the dancer to dodge one another on the vertical spectrum while staying within the circle.