Capoeira Afro-Brazilian martial artists gather for Haiti

MONTREAL, QUE: SATURDAY FEBRUARY 06, 2010. --Formado Pirata (Dominic Antoine, on the right) and Formado Hulk (Hugues Mathieu, left) perform the art of Capoeira at the Centre Culturel et Arts Martiaux Bresiliens de Montreal Capoeira in Montreal. Six or seven major capoeira groups in Montreal are coming together for a Haiti fundraiser Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010 from 2:00pm - 4:30pm at the Centre Pare Sablon, 4265 Papineau Ave.

Arms and legs arcing gracefully so as not to strike their partners, a group of adults and children "worked out a lot of energy" yesterday in Westmount doing capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art, and got in some practice before a fundraiser for Haiti.

The UNICEF benefit, with about 200 participants, isn't until Feb. 21, but it is generating a lot of buzz within Montreal's diverse capoeira community. It will be the first time they're all united for a cause.

It's just one of several creative, grassroots events being held locally to raise funds for Haiti after the Jan. 12 earthquake that killed 212,000 people, injured 300,000 and left about one million homeless.

"We had an instinctive, emotional reaction" to the earthquake, said Soledad Dextre, an instructor at the Centro Cultural Capoeira Baiana in Westmount. "What we do helps us release a lot of energy. This is our way to help."

Capoeira (pronounced Capo-wa-ra) is designed as a vigorous workout with lots of give-and-take, offensive and defensive moves, and aspects of dance as onlookers encourage two partners in a circle to predict their opponent's next move. There is chanting to a percussive beat, a lot of eye contact and a strong sense of community.

"Brazilians have a lot in common with Haitians," noted Peninha Melo, who teaches six classes daily of capoeira and is one of the organizers of the Feb. 21 benefit. "They are neighbours, so it's natural for us to help."

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Feb. 21, 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: L'Union fait la force; Montreal capoeiristas capoeirando pro Haiti. Centre Père Sablon, 4265 Papineau Ave. $10 donations at the door; $20 also buys a T-shirt made for the event. More info at http://tiny.cc/oEnM2

By Max Harrold, The Gazette
February 7, 2010
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Photograph by: Peter McCabe, The Gazette