Artsfest

Review by ArtsFest visitors Katie Robbins:

At this year’s artsfest the capoeira really caught my imagination, an Afro-Brazilian art-form where martial arts meets dance performed by two players.

During their performance I watched, entranced, as the players delivered their swift kicks effortlessly and beautifully, tumbling out of the way attacking and dodging simultaneously, working their way into a frenzy. The beat of the drum matched the intensity of the ‘game’, whilst other Brazilian instruments including the berimbau and the tambourine kept a constant rhythm. The rest of the crowd were equally mesmerised and found themselves clapping and even singing along to the catchy Brazilian lyrics.

Later on, the same group, CDOB, in true festival spirit gave an impromptu performance outside their stall, encouraging all to join them in their revelry.

But maybe the cutest moment was seeing their workshop with all the children from 3 years and up practising their kicks, dodges and cartwheels, trying to emulate what they had witnessed a few moments before, future capoeristas in the making.