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SAMBA DOG |
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 The city of Salvador borders Bahia de Todos os Santos (All Saints Bay. © David Muenker |
Sonya was eager to see the boys' skilled movements. She hoped to have a chance to learn some of the basic moves.
"Will they let me try?" she asked Marcelo.
"Sure. All you have to do is step into the circle," he replied.
Half a dozen kids and young men stood in a circle playing drums and other musical instruments. Sonya cocked her head quizzically at an odd-shaped instrument called a berimbau.
 Boys practice capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art. © David Muenker |
The young man plucked the bow string while he moved the gourd toward his stomach and then away from it. "Twang. Twang," it vibrated. The music set the rhythm for doing the capoeira.
Inside the circle, two boys did kicks, cartwheels and handstands toward and around each other.
"Wow! They're like gymnasts and dancers rolled into one. They're amazing. Is capoeira an Olympic sport?" Sonya asked.
"Not yet."
When one boy tired, another boy stepped into the circle to replace him, all without missing a beat.
Sonya trembled with excitement. She wanted to try to do the capoeira, but she was nervous, too.
"What if I trip over my paws and everyone laughs?" she thought. "What if I don't move fast enough and get kicked in the nose?" Her nose twitched just thinking about it.
"Their moves are so smooth and graceful!" Sonya sighed as she tapped her paws to the beat of the drums.
 Sonya does the capoeira! © Ravay Snow 2006 |
Not knowing what to do, Sonya did what she does best. She spun in circles high into the air. She leaped. And she did flips.
With each move, she managed to stay out of her opponent's kicking range. She heard cheers and clapping. "For me or him?" she wondered.
Sonya spun and leaped and flipped some more. Her confidence grew stronger and stronger.
She started to feel brave. She did a spin that brought her paw within inches of the boy's chest. And then she quickly flipped backward out of reach.
Sonya challenged him again with a headstand and back flip. When that opponent got tired, another one stepped into the circle to take his place. When that person got tired, another one replaced him. And when he got tired, another one replaced him. But with each challenger, Sonya just got stronger and better.
A large crowd formed around them, applauding and cheering. The drums beat louder. The berimbau twanged and twanged.
Finally the capoeira master stepped into the circle. With just one spin, he gently tapped Sonya's nose with his toe. She had been bested. Sonya bowed and gracefully backed out of the circle.
The capoeira master gave the signal for the music to stop. He walked up to Sonya, congratulated her for doing such great movements and shook her paw.
"You are very brave and talented," the capoeira master complimented her. "You outlasted all of my students. We would be honored to have you and your friend join us during Carnival. We all dance together in the streets."
"We'd love to!" Sonya jumped up and down. Marcelo beamed.
"See you tomorrow night in the main plaza."
Sonya did cartwheels into the bay to cool off. Then she fell asleep under a palm tree. She needed to get plenty of rest for Carnival!
To be continued…
In the next issue, Sonya joins the festivities of Carnival!
Note: This story is fiction based on fact.
Go to Sonya's Picks for links to websites about Brazil.
Read a non-fiction article about Carnival in Salvador, Brazil.
Test your understanding of words used in this story with the Word Match game.
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