roda de capoeira: rito espetacular - Biblioteca Digital de Teses e ...

ABSTRACT
This dissertation takes capoeira and its scenic potentiality as the object of study. With an
approximation to the field of etnocenologia, this study has addressed the object capoeira and also
analyzed some of its aspects. Besides the theoretical reference used, this research has also been
based on the experience within capoeira rodas and lessons from Grupo Bantus Capoeira (the
author has been a member of this group for over ten years), the observation of the discipline
Capoeira Angola to UFMG Drama students during three semesters and the participation in
capoeira rodas in Belo Horizonte (MG), Salvador (BA) and Mar Grande (BA). This study has
also had the support of capoeira masters themselves, as well as some experts, to introduce the
definition and a brief historic/background of the object. The main scenic aspects taken into
account in capoeira were the game, the ritual, the spectacle, the performance and the
improvisation. In order to analyze the ritual and the game of capoeira, Terrin (2004) and
Huizinga (2007) have been used as a theoretical source. The capoeira roda has been studied as a
ritual and also as a spectacle. The capoeira elements which are part of the scenic game, their
spectacular and performing characteristics and their ritual behaviours have been analyzed. In
order to do that, the concepts of spectacularity, theatricality – proposed by Bião (1998, 2007a e
2007b) – and performance – discussed by Cohen (2002) e Schechnner (2003) – have been
considered. The scenic improvisation, as well as its principles – presented by Johnstone (2000)
and Muniz (2006a e 2006b) – were reference to the study of improvisation in the game of
capoeira. Finally, this study presents the possibilities regarding freedom of body expression
through capoeira, by using as a reference the concept of joy as a power enhancer.
Keywords: capoeira, ritual, spectacle, game, improvisation, performance.