Mission Statement, Supervisors & Instructors

Contact us for a performance or workshop at your next event.

St. Louis Instructors

  Instructor Beija-flôr- (Keith Wilson) is the Founder and Executive Director of Capoeira St. Louis. Beija-flÔr began his informal training of Capoeira in November of 1998 with a small group of individuals that had an interest in the art form of Capoeira. After traveling to various workshops of Capoeira throughout the U.S. and Canada Beija-flÔr realized that an authentic instructor was needed to learn this art. In 2000, with the help of Mestre Jelon Vieira, he brought Professor Borracha to St. Louis. 
  Beija-flÔr trained with Professor Borracha from 2000 to 2005. Under the supervision of Mestre Jelon and Professor Borracha, Beija-flÔr began instructing Capoeira classes at Saint Louis University in 2001.  To further the progress of Capoeira in St. Louis, Beija-flÔr founded Capoeira St. Louis, a non-profit organization in April of 2001.

 
Graduado Damiao- (Joseph Grey) was introduced to the world of Capoeira in 1998.  In 2000, he started training under the supervision of Mestre Jelon; with Professor Borracha as his instructor.  Currently he is teaching at the YMCA Carondelet Rec Plex. Graduado Damiao appreciates the art’s ability to look graceful and agile while simultaneously being an effective martial art. 

  Graduado Cebolinha- (Matt Hawkins) is one of the principal instructors in St. Louis.  Cebolinha began training with Capoeira St. Louis in 2003 and has been a vital part of the growth of Capoeira St. Louis. Currently he is teaching classes at Club Fitness in Alton, IL and at the YMCA Carondelet Rec Plex. 
 Cebolinha has traveled intensely to further his knowledge of Capoeira. He has trained in  New York, NY; San Antonio, TX; Houston, TX; Gainesville, FL; Champaign, IL; New Orleans, LA; Miami, IL; Phoenix, AZ     



Supervisors ( They don't reside in St. Louis but keep in contact and visit to keep progression of the group) 
  

   Mestre Jelon- Jelon Vieira founder of Capoeira Luanda, a world renowned master and teacher of capoeira. Born in Santo Amaro da Purificação, Bahia, Brazil, in 1953. Started training Capoeira Angola at the age of 10 years old with Mestre Emerito and later on continuing with Mestre Bobô. In 1969 he met Mestre Eziquiel with who he studied Capoeira Regional and had the honor to enjoy classes at Mestre Bimba's academy.

Since his arrival in the US in 1975, Mr. Vieira has catalyzed the growing interest in and understanding of Brazilian culture while simultaneously developing and teaching Capoeira. Mr. Vieira teaches capoeira to people of all ages and from all walks of life in both Brazil and the United States. He has taught the soccer great Pele and American movie stars Wesley Snipes and Eddie Murphy. And worked in movies with Brooke Shields, Timothy Dalton, and the directors Robert Wise and Robert Miller. Although he resides in New York, Mr. Vieira spends several months a year in Brazil. One of his long term goals is to open a center for underprivileged children, using capoeira to build self esteem and self-discipline and to begin moving these children off the streets and into the educational system and mainstream society. Mr. Vieira and Loremil Machado are the pioneer of Capoeira in the United States.

Mr. Vieira has taught in many residency workshops and has been a guest instructor at Yale University's African-American Studies Department for 12 years with Dr. Robert Ferris Thompson. He has also taught at many other universities and colleges including University of Pennsylvania, Denison University, Oberlin College, Columbia University, New York University, Stanford University, Duke University, University of Nebraska, University of Miami among others. In 2000 he was a guest as Eminent Scholar at Florida University, in Gainesville, FL for a semester.

In 1993, after a decade of collaboration between Tha Capoeira Foundation and the Carver Cultural Community Center, Mr. Vieira and Carver Center Director Jo Long decided to create Ilê Bahia de San Antonio, the House of African-Brazilian Arts. The organization was incorporated in 1993 to establish a professional level instruction and training center in the African-Brazilian performing arts. Special emphasis is placed on training at-risk, minority youth in a positive and culturally affirming activity.
  What is Capoeira for me?
"Capoeira is what I am. It is my life philosophy. Through the art of Capoeira I have learned about life and freedom. Because of Capoeira I stay in contact with my ancestors and my culture. It keeps my body and mind healthy and gives me a strong connection with my spirit so that I am able to enjoy every moment of what Life has to offer me. Capoeira has given me such tremendous respect for Life and has kept me focused in my journey to be a better human being."