By Giovanna Torres
Communications Manager

“Growing up I did not have a lot of chances,” said Leai Ho, who was born and raised in Malaysia and has called Charlotte home since 1996. “ I was not exposed to the arts. It wasn’t something we could afford.”

As a child, her exposure to art was limited to the art curriculum in school. So, as an adult, she looked for activities that matched her interests.

“I had been looking for defense skills for myself,” Ho said. “I’m also interested in music and dance, but they are all pieces, and they are all expensive. You can maybe afford one, but not all. ”

Then she found Capoeira Saturdays, a free program organized by Queen City GINGA Project that takes place in recreation centers throughout Mecklenburg County. The classes are supported by ASC’s Culture Blocks program, which brings arts and cultural experiences closer to where people live.

Reba Bowens is the instructor. Bowens has been doing capoeira for 11 years and teaching for about four years.

“Arts and access to arts is very important to me,” said capoeira instructor Reba Bowens. “Arts need to be in community and spaces, not just for expression but for exposure, [but] to see what’s out there.”

THE PERFECT FIT

Ho, who has attended the in-person classes for some time now, is still in awe by how well capoeira combines so many different creative expressions.

“It consists of music and dance, on top of defense skills. It’s a combination of all these plus a cultural background and history aspect,” Ho explained. “To me, it fit into my dream of finding something that has all the components in one. This is for me.”

Music is essential to capoeira.

“Music defines so much of what capoeira is, what it isn’t and what it’s going to be,” said Bowens. “The music tells a story – it can tell what is going to happen, what has happened… it can even be celebratory.

“[Capoeira] is the only martial art that I’m aware of where you have to have music in order for it to happen.”

All these components make capoeira a nuanced, multifaceted experience.

“When you think about moving almost in a flow-like fashion to music, combining self-defense concepts with culture, that’s what makes capoeira unique,” Bowens said.

BUILDING COMMUNITY, FOSTERING DIVERSITY

Capoeira was born in Brazil, but it is rooted in the African diaspora, Bowens said.

“It was folks who were taken from their homes in Africa and placed in this unknown land. You had many different people and tribes coming together and infusing their cultures to create a community and protect their traditions,” she said.

Today, capoeira is used to build community and foster diversity, which has made Ho want to keep coming back.

“I appreciate the Arts & Science Council so much for giving me this opportunity of exposure and for bringing different activities to various neighborhoods for us [residents] to be able to come together and get to know ourselves and one another,” said Ho.

“It’s like a seed. From there we blossom, grow and become a more well-rounded being, in kindness, love and compassion, as well as in wellness and health, taking care of ourselves and other people.”

TRY IT OUT FOR YOURSELF!

Capoeira Saturdays is currently taking place in-person at the West Charlotte Recreation Center (2401 Kendall Dr., Charlotte, NC 28216), and classes are open to all ages. Check out the upcoming dates and stay tuned for more:

• Saturday, December 11 (12 p.m.). Register here.
• Saturday, December 18 (12 p.m.). Register here.

For more Culture Blocks programs near you, visit ArtsAndScience.org/CultureBlocks or sign-up for the Culture Blocks text messaging program by texting the word CULTURE to (980) 353-3055.