The Influence of Capoeira on Hip Hop Dance Forms Research Paper

The Influence of Capoeira on Hip Hop Dance Forms - Research Paper Example This Afro-Brazilian form is called capoeira, a game of movement in which the intent is to mimic fighting moves to outdo an opponent. Capoeira is uniquely suited for the origins of Hip Hop and aspects of it can be found throughout the culture. According to Emmett George Price, hip-hop evolved in the 1970’s as a reactionary cultural movement based on concepts that evolved from the civil rights movements of the 1960’s (1). Price says that the movement is considered to have begun in the Bronx in New York where the neighborhood had developed into an impoverished, gang-based culture that thrived through violence and criminal behavior (9). The gangs provided a sort of â€Å"family’ for the displaced youths that suffered from inadequacies of all types from low-quality nutrition, poor educational opportunities, and a bleak future outlook. Under the leadership of Afrika Bambaataa who rose to lead a gang named the Black Spades, an alternative to violent conflict between the gangs arose to fill the needs of the adversarial youths. Hip-hop developed from a need to find respect and honor without entering into a battlefield of bloodshed. Hip-hop culture developed through a need to find a way to save a culture from its own violent destruction. As ‘crews’ developed rap and movements intended to outdo rival groups, the appeal began to spread and become commercialized. Where the origins of the music developed for private purposes, the commercial potential began to find its way into the music industry. With the release of Sugar Hill’s Gang’s work titled â€Å"Rapper’s Delight†, the revolution of the music industry began. As the music industry developed, so did the dance associated with the music and the culture worked its way into mainstream American entertainment (Fitzgerald 42). Hip-hop is urban and global, a representation from the poor inner-city youth that has expanded into a multi-million dollar financial benefit.