Capoeira Angola Center

Location & Contact:

104 W 14th St # 3
Manhattan, NY 10011
212-989-6975
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Description:

Capoeira Angola, an ancient martial art of African origin, is one of the many cultural weapons used to break the chains of enslavement in Brazil. Played close to the ground, Capoeira Angola combines fluid, dance-like movements with kicks, head butts, tripping sweeps and the appearance of playfulness or vulnerability. Music is played on traditional instruments to accompany the players, to teach the rhythmic heart of the art, and also to mask its power. In the eyes of the enslavers it appeared to be a joking and playful acrobatic dance, but eventually its power was realized and Capoeira was outlawed. Death was the penalty paid by those caught playing Capoeira during the slavery era. For almost 400 years Capoeira Angola was taught and practiced in secret, and only in the 1930's did this African martial art become legal to teach and practice.

Mestre Joo Grande, a Grand Master of Capoeira Angola with more than 50 years of experience, is a highly respected figure in the world of capoeira and has received numerous awards. These include a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Upsala College in East Orange, NJ in 1995, and in September of 2001 he was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is one of the most prestigious awards for practitioners of traditional arts in the US.

Joo Grande first learned Capoeira Angola from Mestre Pastinha, who continues to be his primary source of inspiration. Mestre Pastinha opened the first Capoeira Angola School, The Academia De Capoeira Angola, in 1941 in the city of Salvador, Bahia in the northeast of Brazil. Mestre Pastinha dedicated his school to preserving and continuing the long tradition of this African martial art, teaching Capoeira Angola as a path of self knowledge and mastery. Mestre Pastinha was the first Capoeira Mestre (master) to write a book on the history, philosophy and practice of Capoeira, simply entitled 'Capoeira Angola.' He went to Africa with his students to participate in the Festival of African Arts and Culture during the 1970's and also produced albums promoting the unique musical component of this martial art.

Hours:

Monday: 6:30 to 8:30pm
Tuesday: 6:30 to 8:30pm
Wednesday: 8:00 to 10:00 am , 6:30 to 8:30pm
Thursday: 6:30 to 8:30pm
Friday: 6:30 to 8:30pm
Saturday: 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 to 12:00 noon, 2:00 to 7:30pm

Payment Options:

Cash, Credit

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