The most widely known story of Capoeira’s origin rests in the journey of enslaved Africans that were brought to Brazil by the Portuguese people in the early sixteenth century. Due to high demand for agricultural products from Brazil at the time, nearly four million slaves were brought from Africa, mostly from Sudan, Angola, Congo and Mozambique, far into the nineteenth century. From time to time, slaves would escape the senzalas (slave quarters) and flee to strips of forested land, called capoeiras, where they would establishquilombos. Within these quilombos, or independent villages, the Africans were able to reestablish their culture. It is believed that capoeira was born in the quilombos as a means of expression based on the African culture and comprised of dance, music and song. Along with these influences, Capoeira was practiced as a fighting technique disguised as a dance with the accompaniment of music, to deceive slave owners.

Today, Capoeira enables students to build Endurance, Agility, Flexibility, Balance, Coordination & Rhythm all while learning about the culture of Brazil.

Capoeira is a seamless combination of martial arts, acrobatics, music and language, which increases flexibility, coordination, strength and balance, as well as build self-confidence & positive character. Capoeira encourages students to have fun, be playful and express themselves through movement & music, with benefits to both physical & intellectual development. Students will learn movements consisting of kicks and defenses, as well as sing songs in Portuguese and play instruments. Come join us!