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Creekside Elementary students study the art of capoeira in Tahoe City

Special to the Sun
Submitted to aedgett@sierrasun.com
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TAHOE CITY, Calif. and#8212; Creekside Cooperative Charter Schooland#8217;s kindergarten through sixth grade students have been moving their bodies to the rhythm and dance of Brazilian martial art capoeira.

The instruction, held for seven consecutive Fridays during the months of April, May and June, is part of Creeksideand#8217;s Enrichment Program, a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) funded program geared at giving students unique learning experiences outside their classroom. Instructing the class at Rideout Community Center is skilled capoeira instructor, Brett Brolliar of Reno/Tahoe Capoeira. Each Friday the students learn to speak Portuguese words, sing instrument-accompanied songs, mimic the movement of animals and play in whatand#8217;s called the dance-like fight of capoeira.

and#8220;Itand#8217;s invigorating to remember and see how much kids like to play, and how theyand#8217;re able to create so much from a simple idea,and#8221; said Brolliar. and#8220;These kids have an abundance of energy, and with capoeira theyand#8217;re able to channel it, learning great social skills such as how to take turns, how to approach people and how to perform in the midst of a circle of peers.and#8221;



Born in Brazil in the late 17th century from African slave descendants and Brazilian native influences, capoeira combines martial art, dance and music. It was introduced to the United States in the late 1970s. Tahoe native Brett Brolliar discovered the martial art 10 years ago while attending UC Berkeley, taking a class at the United Capoeira Association with Mestre Acordeon, Mestra Suelly and Mestre Rã, who are credited with bringing the art national and worldwide awareness by traveling and sharing its folklore, dance and performance. Brett brought special guests, including Brazilian capoeiristas, to help teach the Creekside Enrichment Program.

To learn more about Creekside and its Enrichment Program, visit http://www.creeksidecooperative.org. For more about Reno/Tahoe Capoeira, visit http://www.tahoecapoeira.com.



and#8212; Submitted to aedgett@sierrasun.com


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