It's been a while but just thought i'd touch on something perhaps the ladies would be more adept at... looking good. Oh and i don't mean looking good in the Roda with grace and poise in the moves (although that is very important too); I would like to discuss on the dress code of a capoeirista - how it reflects upon his game and style.
Firstly, i need to talk about the hair! Before i ever started finding out more about Capoeira, i've always thought that Dreadlocks are a MUST. This assumption came from attempting to master Eddy's 18-String Combo in the game TEKKEN. Well... dreads are not really a must-have for a capoeirista, but it really adds quite abit of Malicia into your game. Think about it: I would feel weak in the knees if i was joga de Capoeira with PREDATOR.
Dreadlocks aside, Capoeirista just really need to keep their crowning glory in check with a simple headband. Though i've never seen anyone joga with long hair swaying, i'd imagine it to be a pretty scary sight especially after she/he does a Mei Lua De Compasso and looks down to see his/her esquiva-ed opponent...
One of the coolest things Capoeira can achieve is how it can be played in any attire (provided its flexible enough): we don't need body pads or face masks or the likes. We just need to look good and the crowds along Orchard Road would gather around to watch (haha). So it's a norm that bright colors are often worn and white makes quite a good default color. From my Youtube observations, this is quite a popular dress-code amongst regional & Benguela players.However, my true objective is to share with everyone the style of an angoleiro, a player of the angola style. Such a person is described to be a Malandro - a guy that is at the same time smart, bohemian and street wise. I am not saying that the other styles are not capable of Malandro, however, angoleiro capoeiristas of the past dressed the part to reflect Street-Smarts and yet guile.
So why don't we try this out, beginner learners dressing up and standing out whereas the more experienced leaners can dress down, not that we're trying to impose Malicia upon each other but just as a practise to dress and be a chameleon in the roda.
See you guys next Monday in NUS Dance Studio!
Axe
Morcego
