This year’s carnaval, featuring the Austin Samba School and of course, my fellow capoeiristas and me from Capoeira Evolucao, was better than last year’s. We capoeiristas again formed a roda around the samba performers so they could do their spectacular thing twice during the night, which had the theme of Alice in Wonderland. I’m so happy that they made our security job a bit easier by arranging the squared off barricades near the stage so that the stage itself was the fourth side.
After both samba performances, we had our own little show on the side. Although I didn’t play capoeira, many Evolucao capoeiristas did, along with capoeiristas from other places. I found it amusing that guys were obviously beginners would go aggressively against Mestre Metido and how he teased and taunted them before putting them in their place.
Just like last year, many carnaval participants were in varying degrees of nudity, most relying on painted costumes whereas some just looked like inebriated people who’d drunkenly taken off their clothes during the course of the night. Nonetheless, what can one expect from the biggest carnaval celebration in the States?
Hey Teresa! Good to read your latest posting on Carnaval and the capoeira dances. I’ve enjoyed your Autobiography and Poetry. I will soon read Letters from Egypt. Take care and keep up the great writings!