Section A·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, August 27, 1998
Group preserves tradition of capoeira. Afro-Brazilian martial art and dance
by Mariana Paiva
Kansas staff writer
Kansan staff writer
They meet in South Park's gazebo for three hours to sing songs they don't fully understand and to practice acrobatic movements they have never seen before.
This little-known group of KU students and Lawrence residents study capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian tradition of martial art and dance.
Capoeira started during the colonial period in Brazil when slaves were prohibited from practicing any kind of martial art. Seeking to preserve their heritage and to learn how to defend themselves, the slaves disguised an Angolan martial art as a dance by adding music, creating what is now known as capoeira.
Antonio Alivera, Kansas City resident, practices the art of capoirae. About 20 KU students and Lawrence residents meet twice weekly at the South Park gazezo to participate in capoirae. Photo by Joseph Griffin/KANSAN.
Sam Good, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, fell in love with capoeira after watching a video of this tradition. One year later, he began practicing capoeira with 20 other people.
"A lot of people learned from me to begin with, but I told them 'I am a student too. I don't know what I am doing, but I'll show you what I've learned,'" Good said.
Good spent last summer in Brazil learning Portuguese and different capoeira techniques. When he returned to Lawrence, he was surprised that a Brazilian capoeira teacher had come from St. Louis to teach the group that Good had organized.
"I'm really glad he came because he can teach very well, even better than some people I met in Brazil." Good said. "It is amazing how much they learned in the couple of weeks we have been practicing with Sombra."
Antonio Alivera, or Sombra, as he prefers to be called, said he wanted to help spread this tradition in the Lawrence and Kansas City areas.
He uses the hours in South Park to show the movements and to teach the students how to play the traditional instruments and the songs related to capoieira.
"Students need to learn how to flow with each other," Sombra said. "They have to be nice and defend themselves at the same time."
Tahoma Toelkes, Lawrence senior, found out about capoeira while he was working during the summer in Texas. Two Saturdays ago, Toelkes saw the capoeira
group performing in front of the Mercantile Bank, 900 Massachusetts St. He became a new member Tuesday
"I want to learn how to play capoeira because I think it is beautiful," Toelkes said. "Have you seen these smiles? You don't see people smiling in any other martial art."
Ana Cunha, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, sophomore, said she had been practicing capoeira for two years. She thought she would have to give up capoeira when she moved to Lawrence. Thanks to Good, she found a group in Lawrence that shared her love.
The capoera group meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in South Park's gazebo, 1141 Massachusetts St.
The cost of the class is $50 a month or $10 per class.
"I want to register the organization at KU and publicize it and get more students involved," Good said. "Capoeira is very student oriented, and we are all fascinated by it."
by Augustus Anthony Piazza
Kanson Staff Writer
Haskell students to test job program
A pilot federal work-study program will be introduced to Haskell Indian Nations University students today.
City officials will talk to students about new job opportunities at a job fair from 2 to 4 p.m. in Stidham Hall at the university.
Cindi Johnico, Haskell sophomore, stands in front of a Haskell Indian Nations University sign. Johnico was one of the founders of the new federal work-study program at Haskell. Photo by Augustus Anthony Piazza/KANSAN
City officials hope to hire as many as 17 students through the program.
The idea for the program originated when Cindi Johnico, Haskell sophomore, learned that her rent would increase because of the additional income she received from a city internship this summer.
Johmico said students would be exposed to more experience than if they worked in an office at Haskell.
She also lost the Social and Rehabilitation Services benefits that she received in the spring when she had a work-study job.
"I'm tickled to death that we are able to work with the city," Campbell said.
Johnico wanted to keep working for the city and did not want return to her previous work-study job on campus.
Johnico worked with with the Haskell financial-aid office to create a work-study program with the city government.
Entering police reports into
Gary Campbell, supervisor of case management, thought any opportunity for the Haskell students to work with the city would be a win-win situation.
computers, overseeing programs at city recreation centers, researching special projects at Lawrence Public Library, and reviewing water, sewer, trash and drainage bills are some of the part-time responsibilities.
All of the jobs except for the utilities department intern will pay $6 per hour. The utilities department intern will make $6.50 per hour.
The jobs are part-time and about 15 to 20 hours per week.
Because this is a federal work-study program, the federal government is required to pay as much as $4.50 per hour and the city is required to pay the remaining amount.
For students to be eligible for the program, they must be eligible for a Pell Grant and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Twenty-five students meet this criteria. Johnico said.
"The program is for students who will need it the most," Campbell said.
Johnico said the lack of transportation to and from work might become a barrier for interested students.
Another obstacle is that students already had class schedules for the semester, which could make juggling a new work schedule difficult.
Campbell said the program would not replace the regular internships already in place.
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