The Capoiera Institute
Marcelo Pereira, Artistic Mentor in Brazilian Capoeira, Percussion, and Traditional Dance
Hawthorne Elementary School students, who participated in after-school
workshops by Marcelo Pereira, demonstrate capoeira.
Photo by Mari Pongkhamsing
The Capoeira Institute, Berkeley, received $5,000 for an artistic mentorship with capoeira Mestre Marcelo Pereira, who will offer after-school instruction in Brazilian capoeira, percussion, and traditional dance to youth from local elementary schools. Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art developed by African slaves 450 years ago who were brought to Brazil by the Portuguese. The music and dance elements essential to capeoira were used to mask the martial art from the slave masters and kept the Africans’ culture and spirits alive.
Mestre Pereira learned capoeira in the streets of Brazil and later studied with one of the most famous capoeira Masters, Mestre Suasuuna. He came to the United States at the age of twenty-five looking for opportunities to teach. He formed the group Capeoira Mandinga in 1984, before capeoira was widely known outside of Brazil. He also formed the Brazilian Dance Revue in 1991, a group that has performed traditional Brazilian dance at venues throughout the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. Traditional Brazilian dance and Brazilian percussive music have influenced capoeira in its movement, style, and rhythms. The students will have the opportunity to perform throughout the year and participate in a batizado (belt-changing event) upon completion of the project.
Contact Information
Capoeira Mandinga
4125 Piedmont Ave, Studio A
Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 655-8207
mandingainfo@yahoo.com
www.mandinga.org
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