Breakdance to unite the nations

Pumping hip hop beats are filling a run-down gymnasium in the old centre of Lisbon. We can feel the heat and the smell of sweat in the air when we walk in.

A group of guys with muscular bodies are doing “headspins”, “turtles” and “windmills” across the floor – the acrobatic moves of the “Formula Armada” breakdance crew. There are 10 people in the group between the ages of 18 and 28 from all over the world: Angola, Brazil, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, who all live in the close suburbs of Lisbon. They got to know each other through friends and breakdancing events, and now they train together two times a week in the old centre of Portugal’s capital.

One of the founders of the group is Wilson Magalhaes, a 21 year old Angolan, who started dancing at the age of 9, imitating his older brother Owaldo and his uncle who were also performing. “But my biggest idol is Michael Jackson” he comments. Together with his brother Owaldo he founded the group “Formula Armada” in 2004.
The main idea behind the group is to have a positive impact on young people and to find a way to cope with the struggles of life. “We are like a family”, says Wilson and stresses that, “everybody is an equal member”.

Maria, 27, is one of the two “B-Girls” of the crew. For seven months she has practiced with Formula Armada after she met the crew at a national Breakdance championship. She was adamant that she had no problem keeping up with the boys, even though breakdancing is a very athletic and powerful sport - she keeps the boys in line.

At the moment “Formula Armada” is developing a unique style and they are becoming more widely known, both in Lisbon and beyond. Since winning some national competitions and even appearing on national Portuguese television now they regularly get booked for events and shows. Wilson tells proudly that now they have started to earn some money with dancing and that they also obtained some sponsorship. Right now they are touring across Portugal with a Hip-Hop Formation named “Makongo”. To find out more, check www.myspace.com/formulaarmada

What is Breakdance?
Breakdance is a dance style which was originally performed in the streets and which is known as a part of the hip hop movement. It was first danced by African American and Puerto Rican youths in Manhattan and the South Bronx of New York City during the early 1970s. Normally it is danced to Pop, Funk and Hip Hop music.
It is said that Breakdance or B-Boying was an alternative for the youth apart from the violence of urban street gangs.The Breakdance culture is known to be free of any race, gender or age boundaries and today it is a worldwide practised and accepted dance style

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But breakdancers aren't the only ones, who represent street culture in Lisbon. Do you know anything about Capoeira?

Capoeira is a folk art that ritualizes movement from martial arts, games, and dance. It emerged in Brazil some time after the 16th century in the regions known as Bahia, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo. It is said that Capoeira was first created and developed by slaves brought to Brazil from Angola, the Congo, the Gulf of Guinea and the Gold Coast, who used it as a way to practice their martial arts moves while making it appear to be a game or dance.

One of the most important “Capoeiristas” was “Mestre Bimba”. He was a master practitioner and founded the first Capoeira academy in Brazil in 1932. Mestre Bimba developed the Capoeira Regional style which was more effective. Besides the Capoeira Regional there is also practiced the Capoeira Angola today which are the two biggest and common styles of Capoeira.

Text: Manuel Rhode

Photo: 1) Yannick Brusselmans, 2) Eugene Soineanu