China News Service, Rio de Janeiro, March 31, Title: What I experienced in the slums of Rio: A life changed by Brazil’s “War Dance”
China News Service reporter Lin Chunyin
March is the rainy season in Brazil. When a reporter from China News Service recently met Brazilian "war dance" dancer Cornola Morais, Rio de Janeiro (hereinafter referred to as Rio) was in a red alert period for heavy rain.
The dance studio is located on the top floor of a dilapidated small building next to the open-air football field in Rio's Stone River community. Due to rain leaks, half of the 50-square-meter classroom was filled with water. There are eight lamps, but only five can light. Seven or eight boys, dressed in white clothes and trousers, were prancing around and practicing the "war dance" hard. Morais is a leader among them because of his strong skills.
"If there was no 'haka', I might go play football or get a gun." 19-year-old Morais told reporters.
On March 23, local time, in the Stone River Community in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Brazilian "war dance" dancers performed for overseas Chinese children from Canada. Photo by China News Service reporter Lin Chunyin
Elacio Fontura, director of Rio's Stone River Community Neighborhood Association, which helps the dance group solve operational problems, said that "war dance" helps young people in slums not get lost and find their direction in life. The dance troupe has produced many champions of state-level competitions in Rio state, and there is currently a female dancer in her 20s who is participating in national-level competitions.
Vasolito, the 36-year-old leader of the dance troupe who was sweating profusely from practice, is a well-known craftsman of Brazilian national musical instruments. He has been practicing dance for 22 years and has been teaching in the Stone River community for 15 years. He recalled that the founder of the dance company came from Bahia and had been teaching in the Stone River community for 40 years. "He changed my childhood. Now, I do the same thing with him." Vasolito said.
According to Vasolito, although the Stone River community is a poor community, it is not overrun with drugs and guns. The "War Dance" dance group plays a very good guiding role. “On the first day of learning, the teacher told us that learning war dance is to leave the slums and have skills to make a living.” He said, “But even if you are a well-paid famous teacher outside, you still have to come back here to teach for public welfare. "
On March 23, local time, Brazilian "war dance" dancer Cornola Morais performed for overseas Chinese children from Canada in the Stone River Community in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by China News Service reporter Lin Chunyin
Morais joined the dance troupe at the age of 5 and quickly distinguished himself. After completing his studies, he once left the dance troupe and joined a gang. In 2014, the World Cup was held in Brazil. As one of Brazil's local cultural symbols and national skills, "war dance" became an important performance at the opening ceremony, attracting the attention of global audiences. Morais's heart was also touched.
"The teacher called me. He wanted to see if I had lost all my courage." Morais came back. He was respected by the children for his superb skills, which made him "reenergize". "I have grown up." When I got older, I achieved the tenacity and generosity of a 'war dance' dancer."
In 2014, the Brazilian “war dance” was included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list by UNESCO. "War dance" flourished in Brazil and spread to the world. According to statistics from the Brazilian National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage, schools teaching "war dance" have spread over more than 160 countries and regions around the world. On the day when the reporter visited the Stone River community, overseas Chinese members of the Canadian Repertory Theater and the Colorful Building Blocks Theater Company came here to experience the Brazilian style in "War Dance".
Elson, a 13-year-old little dancer, pointed to the duxianqin composed of a long bow, steel wire and gourd and introduced to everyone that it was a "bell-picking" fiddle, and the sound of the fiddle and the drums controlled the attacking rhythm of the "war dance". All the instruments are made from natural materials, similar to the "Pandero" of the tambourine, which is woven with fine rattan, and the plectrum is a dark pebble.
Elson's idol is Grammy Award-winning Brazilian musician Nana Vasconcelos. "His percussion uses any object that can produce interesting sounds, and he brought the 'trumpet' to the world." Elson feels, "This is the sound of Brazil, very charming." (End)