The Oriental Riddle
How capoeira opens door in one of the most closed-off countries of the Middle East — Iran.
The popularity of capoeira is rapidly spreading around the world. New groups appear almost every day, events take place in different countries, and international projects are launched. However, there are still a lot of places around the globe that are yet to be discovered by capoeiristas. One of them could be Iran.
A new event called First Women's Capoeira Meeting (FWCM) will take place from 4th to 11th of December in Tehran, the capital of Iran, under the supervision of Grupo Senzala, along with the cooperation of the Capoeira Me Leva project. Mestre Pedro, the organizer of the event and the teacher of Grupo Senzala in Cambridge, England, told Jogo Bonito what inspired him to start the festival and what difference would it make.
"I've been going to Iran for almost 7 years now. It has been an amazing experience", Mestre Pedro said. "Local students have been a part of our group Senzala for 5 years".
The founders of the group in Iran, Mahid and Pouya, found Mestre Pedro on the Internet and invited him to Tehran.
A new event called First Women's Capoeira Meeting (FWCM) will take place from 4th to 11th of December in Tehran, the capital of Iran, under the supervision of Grupo Senzala, along with the cooperation of the Capoeira Me Leva project. Mestre Pedro, the organizer of the event and the teacher of Grupo Senzala in Cambridge, England, told Jogo Bonito what inspired him to start the festival and what difference would it make.
"I've been going to Iran for almost 7 years now. It has been an amazing experience", Mestre Pedro said. "Local students have been a part of our group Senzala for 5 years".
The founders of the group in Iran, Mahid and Pouya, found Mestre Pedro on the Internet and invited him to Tehran.
Now, unfortunately, in the Western world, what you hear about Iran is almost always negative and scary. I guess for many people that's where the story would end.
This isn't the first time Mestre Pedro has faced a challenge to run a capoeira group in a different cultural and religious environment: about 10 years ago he started supervising Groupo Senzala in Indonesia — one of the biggest Muslim countries. That's why, despite all cautions from friends, Mestre Pedro decided to accept the invitation.
"From the moment I landed, I was quite impressed by what I saw: the food, the culture, the size of the city and the Iranian hospitality. Brazilians are famous for their hospitality but Iran is a totally different level," he said.
Two years later Tehran capoeira group had successfully joined Grupo Senzala. However, soon after that economic sanctions were imposed against Iran. As a result of the local currency drop and inflation, the group couldn't invite Mestre Pedro regularly. Another problem was capoeira legalization. Iran is a religious country and dances are forbidden by law. Capoeira is usually interpreted as a dance.
"But Iranians didn't want to give up. It was at that time that girls and women joined the group".
"From the moment I landed, I was quite impressed by what I saw: the food, the culture, the size of the city and the Iranian hospitality. Brazilians are famous for their hospitality but Iran is a totally different level," he said.
Two years later Tehran capoeira group had successfully joined Grupo Senzala. However, soon after that economic sanctions were imposed against Iran. As a result of the local currency drop and inflation, the group couldn't invite Mestre Pedro regularly. Another problem was capoeira legalization. Iran is a religious country and dances are forbidden by law. Capoeira is usually interpreted as a dance.
"But Iranians didn't want to give up. It was at that time that girls and women joined the group".
It was a big step. Previously, the group had consisted of only men. Although women in Iran are not forbidden to do sports and participate in competitions, they are not allowed to train together with men.
While organizing capoeira events in Tehran, Mestre Pedro faced a number of challenges. The financial situation was one of the biggest. Due to the economic sanctions the country was cut off from the international banking system. Mestre Pedro had to turn to crowdfunding in order to make the events happen. Also, since boys and girls would practice separately, he was often criticized by those who thought he supported women's discrimination. This is how the idea of a capoeira event for female capoeiristas was born.
Though the founders of the group have organized several batizados in the recent years, the First women capoeira meeting would be a major and unique event for capoeiristas regardless of their sex, style or level.
While organizing capoeira events in Tehran, Mestre Pedro faced a number of challenges. The financial situation was one of the biggest. Due to the economic sanctions the country was cut off from the international banking system. Mestre Pedro had to turn to crowdfunding in order to make the events happen. Also, since boys and girls would practice separately, he was often criticized by those who thought he supported women's discrimination. This is how the idea of a capoeira event for female capoeiristas was born.
Though the founders of the group have organized several batizados in the recent years, the First women capoeira meeting would be a major and unique event for capoeiristas regardless of their sex, style or level.
Capoeira girls in Tehran will have a chance to meet female capoeira mestras from other countries. One of them is Сontra Мestra Nega from Groupo Senzala in Sete, France, who participated in Rasteira Malandra, the capoeira event for women in Paris. However, batizados for men and women will be held separately, according to Iranian laws.
During the week-long event students would take part in music lessons, capoeira trainings and rodas. Toward the end of the week they would receive a specific feedback and tips for self-development from the invited masters. It would be a valuable experience for those, who like capoeiristas in Iran, don't have a chance to train with masters regularly.
During the week-long event students would take part in music lessons, capoeira trainings and rodas. Toward the end of the week they would receive a specific feedback and tips for self-development from the invited masters. It would be a valuable experience for those, who like capoeiristas in Iran, don't have a chance to train with masters regularly.
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We organize this event to support women capoeiristas in Iran.
The event will not only include capoeira practices and batizado but also an extensive cultural program and a tour around Tehran.
"All I want to do is to make a difference, connect and affect people with capoeira", Mestre Pedro said. "I want to share my experience from Iran, I want to show, how Iran really is."
During the week participants could visit museums and historical sights as well as to stay in a typical Iranian family and basically have a genuine experience of life in Iran.
"Most events in Europe or Brazil are about capoeira, the group or the guest masters and that's it. Here, we aim to add a little more, make connections and hopefully make a greater impact."
And it's hard to disagree that a capoeira event in a corner of the world is a great opportunity for new discoveries and encounters.
"All I want to do is to make a difference, connect and affect people with capoeira", Mestre Pedro said. "I want to share my experience from Iran, I want to show, how Iran really is."
During the week participants could visit museums and historical sights as well as to stay in a typical Iranian family and basically have a genuine experience of life in Iran.
"Most events in Europe or Brazil are about capoeira, the group or the guest masters and that's it. Here, we aim to add a little more, make connections and hopefully make a greater impact."
And it's hard to disagree that a capoeira event in a corner of the world is a great opportunity for new discoveries and encounters.
Credits: Pedro Albuquerque
