New York Capoeira Center

About

Capoeiristas exchange acrobatic “attacks” and “escapes” in the roda. Capoeira emerged in Brazil as a means of empowerment, freedom and survival for enslaved Africans. It was practiced on colonial plantations and in quilombos, communities of free Africans and their descendants living in the backlands. Capoeira grew into a beautiful form of cultural expression that celebrates flexibility, strength, cleverness, and playfulness — a few of capoeira’s qualities that are crucial for survival and dignity in the face of oppression and marginalization. Today, capoeira retains its playful quality. It is widely enjoyed for its aesthetic appeal, as a competitive “dance.” Modern practitioners train capoeira because it is both physically and artistically fulfilling. Even more, the art draws them in with its supportive community, its rich metaphors and practical lessons.

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