What is capoeira?

360 Video project by Stanford University students Jackie Botts and Nico Sandi

A feature of my capoeira school, Capoeira Narahari, when we were hosted at Stanford Capoeira Club through the martial arts program

My teacher, Mestre Beiçola, in 1992 at an event in San Francisco, CA. (He’s the one with the thin stripe down the side of his pants!) I really admire the way they flow in this game.

Powerful game between Mestre Cobra Mansa (yellow shirt) and Mestre Espirro Mirim (white shirt)

Things get real in this game between Tati and Mestre Cobra Mansa

“Apanha laranja no chão tico tico” – the game of picking up a handkerchief of money with one’s mouth + bonus game w/ straight razor (navalha)

Flow game between Itapuã Beiramar and Emerson Rasta

I look up to these inspiring women who are capoeira instructors and amazing movers.

A fun game to watch!

Strong women of Capoeira Angola

Mestre Leopoldina, my grand-mestre’s grand mestre

Megha plays Yael as she earns her next cord

Video project by Milene Monteiro (founder of Oleear). She aimed to show how being involved in a cultural art form can create a sense of identity and community.

Maculele is a stick dance often included in capoeira education. This is a performance by Capoeira Narahari at a cultural show in 2009.

Capoeira demo at a Sunnyvale church fundraiser in Oct 2018.

UNESCO names Capoeira an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity – 2014

An interesting documentary where the filmmakers explore Capoeira’s African roots in Benin (French with English subtitles)

May 2019, Os Caliocas perform at Café Stritch in San Jose, CA

Os Caliocas is:
Cado dos Santos (guitar)
Megha Makam (surdo)
Mestre Beiçola (pandeiro)

Trio Terra at BrasArte in Dec 2015, for a night of live music and dancing. Special guest, Chip Tingle, on trombone.

Trio Terra is:
Celia Malheiros (guitar)
Mestre Beiçola (pandeiro)
Megha Makam (surdo)

Capoeira is great for kids of all ages!

Capoeira is great for kids of all ages!

Stick Playing in the Afro-Brazilian Culture of the Paraíba Valley

About Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian syncretic religion. Captions in English.