About Classes

We would like to invite you to enjoy the healthy atmosphere of our class and to share the amazingly graceful art of capoeira. Beginners can drop in at any time. Just bring any kind of loose pants (preferably sweat-pants) and a t-shirt. Classes are done with students of different skill levels. All capoeira movements can be broken down to challenge anybody in accordance to their skill level.

Capoeira classes will emphasize many different aspects. From techniques and coordination to simply understanding the art. The learning process includes working on ground movements, working two by two, basic sequences of kicks and escapes, playing musical instruments, singing, clapping and so much more. The idea of capoeira is to move within the movements of your partner achieving a harmony of forces.

We request that students arrive to class fifteen minutes early for changing, payment and stretching.

Capoeira Mandinga of RIT

Capoeira Mandinga of RIT was formed by Avestruz (Gian Lomaglio) and Chofer com as mãos pretas (Sean Farner). The goal of the club is to provide the RIT community with a fair and complete representation of Capoeira. Class sizes range from 3 to 15 students. The group is a satelite school of Capoeira Mandinga of Rochester, where Chofer and Avestruz continue to train under Contra Mestre Carcará.

Chofer com as mãos pretas and Avestruz

Chofer and Ave met 3 years ago through Capoeira Mandinga of Rochester. After realizing they both attended RIT it was not long before they started training together outside the academy and in the field house. In the fall of 2007 the student club Capoeira Mandinga of RIT was formed with the approval of Contra Mestre Carcará. Since Avestruz and Chofer graduated, the club is now being taught by Espiao.

Capoeira Mandinga

Capoeira Mandinga has existed since 1984, when Mestre Marcelo Caveirinha was the third person to arrive in the California Bay Area and began teaching classes. Mestre Marcelo Caveirinha started it under the name of Senzala Grande (The name was changed in 1995). Capoeira Mandinga also has a life as a nonprofit organization called the Capoeira Institute. The group is affiliated with many other schools and performing groups around the country and around the world.

Contra Mestre Carcará

Contra Mestre Carcará was first exposed to capoeira through, the 20th Century Fox film, Only The Strong. From then on he began to research and search out anything he could on capoeira. During college, he stumbled upon a group of people training capoeira, led by Gato Pardo, at Buffalo State College. In the first month of taking classes he attended his first workshop in Detroit, Michigan. Here he met Mestre Marcelo Caveirinha and found that he was part of a much larger family. Within the first year of classes he started to help instruct and eventually leading the Buffalo group. It was when Gato Pardo had to leave for personal commitments that the group was instructed by Carcará and Falcão (the Buffalo, New York group is currently led by Falcão). Under the supvision of Mestre Marcelo, Carcará continued to teach and would go on to teach classes in Wilmington, North Carolina before moving to Oakland, California. There he trained directly under Mestre Marcelo Caveirinha. Within California he instructed adult classes at University of California Berkeley and Pixar Animation Studios (Emeryville). He also taught kid classes for OASES (Oakland Asian Students Education Services) at Lincoln Elementary School (Chinatown, Oakland). Upon his return to the Western New York area he met Martin Fischer, Greg Hollar, Rashid Homti and Mike Stefani all whom resided in Rochester, NY. After talking with them Carcará traveled to the Rochester area and would eventually start teaching there; the official beginning of Capoeira Mandinga Rochester is October 1st, 2004. In July of 2005, just after the groups premier Batizado in June, Contra Mestre Carcará made Rochester his new home. He currently teaches at Academia com Expressao, as well as The University of Rochester.

Mestre Marcelo Caveirinha

Mestre MarceloPereira was born in São Paulo, Brazil. He started playing (dancing, entertaining, fighting) capoeira on the streets and was later referred to one of the most famous masters, Mestre Suassuna (Cordão de Ouro). He opened his own school, Associação de Capoeira Senzala Grande in 1979, and in 1984 came to the United States to perform and teach. He then founded the Capoeira Institute of the Bay Area - California, and Marcelo Pereira & Brazil Dance Revue.

Mestre Marcelo's Capoeira Institute of the California Bay Area is an institution that promotes shows, workshops and special seminars with different capoeira masters. It also offers research for people that are interested in studying the history and philosophy of capoeira. Today, his work reflects an important aspect of capoeira as it has been diffused throughout the United States.

Capoeira Mandinga