LUCAS AND THE CAPOEIRA CIRCLE

A young capoeirista learns to reawaken his ginga.

Anticipation blooms as the day of Lucas’ batizado, or moving-up ceremony, arrives. Dressed in his abadá, Lucas shows off his capoeira moves with each swift kick and arm swing. If he can demonstrate his finest moves to the roda (or circle) before Mestre sweeps him to the ground, Lucas will receive a new corda and a cool nickname. As Lucas practices, his little sister, Lilica, joins in, falling in the process. Tears come, and Mamãe consoles her: “It happens. We all lose our confidence from time to time.” Uh-oh. Will a suddenly nervous Lucas lose his ginga at the capoeira circle? At the park, the roda welcomes Lucas and his family, and the batizado commences. Lucas’ friends demonstrate their moves one by one until the Mestre calls for Lucas. Unable to move, Lucas grabs his dependable tamborim and drums to the rhythm—“tuk-tuk-tek”—to regain his ginga. Full of dynamic language set at a precise pace, Pastro’s cadenced prose builds up Lucas’ inner journey through the rush of initial excitement, anxieties of creeping dreads, and joys of eventual triumph. Similarly, Lopes’ superb artwork depicts the elegance of capoeira via larger-than-life stances and extravagant gestures, all shaded in warm colors. A quick addendum provides details on the historical importance of capoeira and its role in Afro-Brazilian culture. Lucas and his family read Black, while the capoeira circle is racially diverse.

A marvelous celebration of inner strength and courage.