DanceBrazil
Thu., Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m., Fri., Feb. 2, 8 p.m., Sat., Feb. 3, 2 and 8 p.m., Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St.
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"Capoeira is a game," Dance-Brazil artistic director and choreographer Jelon Vieira likes to say. And what a game. The rules are simple: Only your head, hands or feet can touch the ground. That means lots of high kicks (like over someone's head), handstands, cartwheels and head spins. It's terrifying and exhilarating to watch. Vieira is a native of the Bahia state in northern Brazil, where Capoeira was created by African slaves who disguised their secret martial training as play. He came to New York in 1975 to study Martha Graham dance technique. Two years later, he'd soaked up enough know-how to see what a powerful combination modern dance and Capoeira could be. He incorporated as DanceBrazil and has since taken his troupe of dancers and musicians all over the world. DanceBrazil brings two premieres to its Dance Celebration performance: "Desafio" (meaning challenge) and "The Ritual" (combining Capoeira with Candomble, a pantheistic religion brought to Brazil by Yoruba slaves).
Thu., Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m., Fri., Feb. 2, 8 p.m., Sat., Feb. 3, 2 and 8 p.m., Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St., 215-898-3900, www.pennpresents.org.
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