Joshua Tan
It was a blend of self-defence, dance and acrobatics that made all who were crossing Read Bridge at Clarke Quay stop and stare.Armed with 3 berimbaus(an instrument that looks like an archer’s bow) and an assortment of percussive instruments, the performers stood in a roda (meaning circle), clapping their hands and singing along as pairs of performers took turns to spar in the centre.
In the true spirit of Capoeira, the 
performance wasn’t about inflicting hurt on the opponent, but making graceful, flowing attacks, feints and dodges to the rhythm of the music, with a few handstands and cartwheels thrown in.
Visiting United States Navyman Doug Waltzman, 23, was very impressed with the performance.
“I thought the show was great. It was very entertaining and I’m glad I stumbled upon it,” he told UrbanWire.
Headed by founder Jose Maria Cardoso Da Costa, the association has been practicing the Afro-Brazilian martial art in Singapore since 2002, with sessions held every Sunday at The Substation.
Despite the group’s 6 years of practice here, few of those who attended knew that the group is based here in Singapore.
Audience member Cheng Ke Yi was taken aback when he was told this.
“Locally based? I had no idea,” the 19-year-old student exclaimed.
Electronic engineer Chan Kah Hou, 32, had even thought that the group was originally from Africa or India.
Those whom UrbanWire spoke to felt that this ignorance was due to insufficient education on the Arts amongst Singaporeans.
Chan said, “The public is not sure of what the group is doing and what the idea and background of the performance is.”
Nureen Juri, 25, a part-time undergraduate, however, is optimistic.
“Making a performance free is the best way to expose the public to the arts. It is the first step and then from there people will know what the performances are like,” she said.
Arts on the Move runs from May 23 to June 15.
For the full schedule of Arts on the Move, please visit the Singapore Arts Festival 2008
This article is part of UrbanWire’s 9-week Singapore Arts Festival 2008 special. Get all the latest Arts Fest updates and reviews on UrbanWIre.
Joshua Tan is an external contributor who is currently studying in the Mass Communication DIploma Programme at the School of Film & Media Studies of Ngee Ann Polytechnic. This article is based on his assignment piece for his Newswriting Module.
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