Mestre Leopoldina
Demerval Lopes de Lacerda (1933–2007), known as Mestre Leopoldina, was a velha guarda (old guard) capoeira mestre from 20th century.
Mestre Leopoldina is famous for his quick and very unique style of playing capoeira, as well as for his mastery of the berimbau and the songs he composes.[1]
He was representing the old capoeira carioca, malicia and the traditional malandragem of capoeira.[2]
Biography
Demerval Lopes was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1933. He grow up without his mother, often beaten and neglected.[3] He left his home at young age, sleeping at the train stations and selling sweets on street. It is often said that he was nicknamed after one of Rio's train stations, but he states that his nickname was after a locomotive.[3] As a teenager, he went to Serviço de Assistência ao Menor, a Child Care Service.
In 1951, he left Child Care Service as eighteen years old and began selling newspapers. At this time that he met Joaquim Felix, knonw as Quinzinho, a dangerous young murderer and gang leader.[3] Quinzinho was a capoeirista and was Leopoldina's first teacher in the art of “tiririca”, the capoeira of gangs without music. A few years later, Quinzinho was arrested again and murdered in prison.[3]
Around 1954, Leopoldina became disciple of Artur Emídio, who recently arrived from Itabuna, Bahia, and teaching Bahian capoeira that was played to the berimbau.[3]
In the following years, Leopoldina went to work at Cais do Porto at the docks. He retired before the age of forty-five, due to a work accident (which left no serious consequences) and lived the life of a capoeirista.
Leopoldina also was a passionate samba performer.
In 1977, he participated in the film Cordão de Ouro.[4]
He passed away on October 17 2007 in São José dos Campos / SP.
Literature
- Capoeira, Nestor (2007). The Little Capoeira Book. Blue Snake Books. ISBN 9781583941980.
