This class is fun and challenging! We warm up, practice basic movements, and then assemble them into a sequence. The sequence is then repeated with a partner, rotating between different levels. At the end, we play music and have a small roda to play Capoeira Angola and practice what we have learned.

Capoeira Angola developed in Brazil from a variety of African roots. N’golo from Angola, rhythms from Congo, and acrobatics from Guinea combined to form a martial art disguised as a dance and played like a game. All these elements plus a deliberate sense of fun result in a vigorous workout for the body and mind!

Mestre Deraldo: I started training Capoeira when I was 14 years old and just turned 64. I saw Capoeira played on the streets, and was curious to know more. I fell in love with the music, history, and movements of the style. I graduated as a Mestre in 1984 and moved to Boston in 1986. I was the first to teach Capoeira in New England. Mestre Joao Pequenho certified me as a teacher of Capoeira Angola in 1991.

Contra Mestre Calango: I moved to Boston in 2000 to continue training with Mestre Deraldo. Since then, I traveled with him to universities and events around the world to assist in demonstrating and teaching of the beautiful art of Capoeira Angola. I graduated as a Contra Mestre in 2017.

…It is so important to promote the history and culture of this amazing style! Capoeira Angola was developed by the enslaved peoples of Brazil to liberate themselves physically and spiritually. It demonstrates the incredible intelligence, ingenuity, and strength of the African peoples in the Americas. If those who came before us could use this art to become free while still enslaved, what can it help us achieve in our own lives? What struggles can Capoeira Angola help us overcome?