Friday Night, 10th March 2006; Abolicao meets Synergy...Synergy host a regular monthly club night at S.E. One, a large venue in London Bridge. Due to the classes held at Synergy's community centre in Camberwell, Abolicao were invited to put on a capoeira showat the aforementioned event, led by Negao and involving 17 of Abolicao's finest.. (and Dourado)
After arriving bang-on time in London at Pato and Formiga's flat, the crew got ready and set off for S.E.One at around 12 am. We were initially met with resistance by the venue's own bouncers, who didn't want us providing our own supplies of water. However once this error was negotiated, we were let into the club, and found ourselves in a mysterious place...Under the U.V. lights we had to negotiate crowds of assorted hippies, techno-clubbers, jugglers, performers of all varieties and an array of interesting stalls offering up-to-date information and insights into the world's current major 'green' issues. People talked about climate change, social topics, politics and art; there were singers and rappers, dancers, poets, face-painters and chai-sellers. And us!We were set to perform at 1:45, and after a slight delay we took the floor to follow an amazing stage show by a solo female rapper and a group of singers from south London.We started with a brief introduction to capoeira and the work of the Abolicao Trust by the eloquent Dende, then got straight down to 20 minutes of capoeira as Negao led the roda with his usual high-powered singing to get the crowd hyped!After the first show we proceeded to another 3 areas of the club (each with their own special differences, hosted by separate club promoters). Within a few seconds of our arrival in each place, we were surrounded by a tight throng of captivated watchers, all in various states of awareness but all intrigued and excited. Everyone played really well, and represented Abolicao with top-quality energy and our hallmark grace and power.Finally we were left to our own devices in a space at the entrance to the venue, where we carried on for about 30 minutes (even drawing a couple of extra capoeiristas from the clubbers mass, who joined us for a game or two), before packing down the roda and wandering off into separate regions of this large, colourful indoor festival for our individual adventures (ask Negao for further feedback on his experience of hardcore psychedelic trance..).
We left in two waves, some to head back to Oxford at 7am, others to bundle into Formiga and Pato's flat in Camberwell and sleep like sloths until midday. We woke up, ate hot cross buns, watched Formiga's DV footage of the rodas, looked at some of Gaviao's (as usual) stunning images from the night; then under Dende's expert guidance trekked on to Borough Market for a feast of organic farm food, then on to Camden to dodge more hippies and tire ourselves out again.And that's it. Everone went home, tired but well spent. All in all a colourful event.. Keep your eyes open for digital evidence of the shenanigans. Who's up for next month then?! (joke)
Well done to Pato for organising this event and for Abolicao Oxford members who made this possible. Your efforts are much appreciated !! (Onca Pintada)
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