In it for kicks

Iuri Santos pulled back his long dreadlocks and wordlessly chose a partner from the row of performers playing a lively beat on several instruments. He silently delegated the switching of instruments from the chosen opponent to another member still playing music, then, along with his partner, knelt in front of the others and performed a set of synchronized prayer-like movements. Santos and his partner faced each other and touched palms before breaking away and beginning their competition. \nThe peculiar ritual, which can be seen most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, was just another meeting for Grupo de Capoeira Angola Estrela do Norte, or North Star Capoeira. \nLed by Santos, the Contra-Mestre (one less than master), the group practices and performs a type of dance-fighting that combines Brazilian and African styles. The group practices from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Harmony School, 909 E. Second St. Practices are free and open to anyone. \nSantos has been teaching Capoeira Angola since he came from Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, in 1998. He described its origins as coming from several different dances, martial arts and music. \n"The closest ritual art (to) Capoeira that we know is the N'golo, the game of the zebras that was practiced by the Bantu people," he said. "Some people say it's African, but, for me, it's both (African and Brazilian)."\nHe explained that the N'golo art came from what is now Angola. Slaves from Angola were essential to the development of the Portuguese colony of Brazil, according to www.angola.org. Angola was a Brazilian colony, and the mix of African and Brazilian culture helped create this art form. \n"Capoeira is a physical, mental, spiritual trickery game, a game of questions and answers," Santos said. "When you don't have more answers for the opponent's questions, you lose the game." \nBrazil has a strong system of passing along the tradition of Capoeira Angola. Mestres (or masters) of Capoeira are strong community leaders in Brazil, Santos said. A long legacy of the art form is being passed from Mestre to Contra-Mestre. Though Capoeira developed over time with the mixture of cultures, Santos estimated it goes back at least 400 years, possibly even to the 16th century. \nSantos has continued to pass the traditions of Capoeira to his Bloomington and Indianapolis students.\nBloomington resident and group member Michelle Broaddus said she practices Capoeira because she loves the theater and depth of the art form. \n"Someday I want to be able to do cool things like Iuri," she said. \nSantos' group has two kinds of weekly practices: one with normal practices of moves, music and singing Mondays and Fridays and a roda, or circle, Wednesday nights. Normal practices include stretching and rapid repetition of several moves important to the art form and rehearsal of the songs the members dance-fight to.\n"There are different exercises for Capoeira. Sometimes we practice with sticks, with the benches. Sometimes we do handstands on the wall," Santos said. "There are all kinds of ways to do Capoeira."\nThe roda, or circle, is what students might see the group perform by the Sample Gates as it has done in the past. The roda combines all the elements that members have been practicing. A roda requires 10 members to play music and compete, said Chris Dintaman, a four-year member of the group. \nThe Bloomington branch of the group now has about 10 members, and Dintaman said the group is always looking for new faces. \n"We want the group to grow and be strong. The rodas are spiritually stronger when there are more people," he said. \nSantos said he is continuously working to keep the Bloomington group strong. \n"We are always doing big events and bringing teachers from Brazil," he said.