CLASS DESCRIPTION
Hans’ capoeira classes weave a variety of footwork, kicks, dodges, acrobatics, arm balances, music, and ritual into a community celebration that is challenging, engaging, and rewarding.
Have you met capoeira before? Just in case you haven't: capoeira is a physical, musical, community game; it was originally a martial art developed by african slaves in NE Brasil, and hidden from slave masters as a dance.
In Hans’ classes, those that are new to the game of capoeira learn their basic movement vocabulary: the ginga. Those that have a longer history with capoeira gain insight into improvised, interconnected movements. For all practitioners, novice and seasoned, there is a strong focus on actively learning the conversational play that takes place in the roda (capoeira circle where 2 practitioners “play.'') Also, for all practitioners, there is a strong focus on sharpening a felt sense awareness of the body in space, partially owing to Hans’ multi-decade background with Iyengar-based yoga, and alignment principals.
Musicality is a big part of capoeira and participants in Hans’ classes have the opportunity to learn traditional rhythms and choruses in voice and in body!
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BIO
Hans was boppin before he was born, dancing belly dance with his Mother when she performed 4 months pregnant. Since then music and movement arts have brought him to Latin America and all over the west and east coasts, studying with masters of living arts. For the last 12 years, Hans has been lucky enough to be the student of Mestre Pedro Cruz from Salvador da Bahia, in NE Brasil. Hans has taught capoeira extensively in Portland, OR (including at Reed College), the west coast, and Mexico. In addition to a long history with capoeira, Hans has spent much time honing folkloric, jazz, and classical idioms on multiple string and percussion instruments. Hans holds a degree in jazz studies from Portland State University (Oregon) and has worked with artists and ensembles (including Son de Madera, Laura Rebolloso, Rejoice Diaspora Dance Theater, Radio Jarocho, and others) on the west and east coasts and into Mexico and Brasil.