Roda
The circle of people inside which capoeira is played and samba de roda is danced.
Also: roda de capoeira, roda de samba
Roda is Portuguese for wheel or ring. In capoeira the players, musicians and onlookers form a circle. At its head stands the row of instruments led by the berimbau, a musical bow. Two players crouch in front of it, then enter the ring to play, while everyone else claps and sings the responses. The music sets the speed and style of the game. Samba de roda, from the Bahia region, is danced the same way, with one person at a time in the centre.