Capoeira Comes to New Paltz

Photo by Samantha Urbanski

The first Capoeira workshop at SUNY New Paltz was held in the Elting Gym on Saturday, Oct. 24. The workshop was co-sponsored by the Departments of Anthropology and Theater Arts and the Anthropology Club. The class was lead by native Brazilian Gustavo Caldas who has been studying capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art, since he was a child. Students were taught basic moves of capoeira, including the ginga, a preparatory movement back and forth to prepare the body for attacks or defensive movements, kicks and spins.