Keith Wilson (A.K.A. Beija-flôr) is the Founder and Executive Director of Capoeira St. Louis. Mr. Wilson 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 through out the U.S. and Canada Mr. Wilson 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. Professor Borracha is native to Bahia, Brasil, under Jelon Vieira, Founder and Artistic Director of Capoeira Foundation and Dance Brazil. Mr. Wilson trained with Professor Borracha from 2000 to 2005. Under the supervision of Mestre Jelon and Professor Borracha, Mr. Wilson began instructing Capoeira classes at Saint Louis University in 2001.  To further the progress of Capoeira in St. Louis, Mr. Wilson founded Capoeira St. Louis, a non-profit organization, in April of 2001 and opened a Capoeira studio in downtown St. Louis in 2001. In 2005 to further the growth and financial stability of Capoeira St. Louis, Mr. Wilson decided to join with World Arts of St. Louis, making Hazelwood, MO the organizations new home.

 After Professor Borracha moved to Gainesville, FL in 2005 Mr. Wilson became one of the full time instructors for Capoeira St. Louis. 

Mr. Wilson continues to travel to further his knowledge of Capoeira. He has trained Capoeira in New York, NY; San Antonio, TX; Houston, TX; Gainesville, FL; Kansas City, MO; Madison, WI; Champaign, IL; Bloomington, IN; Vancouver, Canada.

As Executive Director of Capoeira St. Louis, Keith has organized performances of Capoeira at a variety of events in the St. Louis Community.  Some of these events include “Fair St. Louis July 2, 2000”, “International Banquet March 29, 2002 at Washington University (200 spectators)”, “1st Annual International Street Fair Edwardsville, IL Sept. 2002 (500 spectators)”, Founder’s Day diversity workshops at Nerinx Hall April 26, 2002 (60 attendees)”, “Black Dance USA at COCA May 19-25 2003 (40 attendees)”, “Better Family Life Lock In at Monsanto YMCA November 21, 2003 (50 attendees)”, “Thurtene Carnival April 16th and 17th 2005 (200 spectators)”, “Mid-County YMCA International Dinner April 16, 2005 (150 spectators)”, “Black Dance USA at COCA May 25-29 2005 (60 attendees)”, “Marquette High School Multi-Cultural Festival May 2005 (500 spectators)”, “Celebrate the World in Maryland Heights 2005 (700 spectators)”, “Taste of Central West End 2005 (250 spectators)”, “Hazelfest in Hazelwood 2005 (200 spectators)”, “Washington University fund raiser for hunger 2005” (100 spectators), “Fund raising event at St. Alexius Hospital-Jefferson Campus 2005 (50 spectators)”, “Chinese International Arts Center 2005 (100 spectators)”, “Ferguson Street Festival 2005 (250 spectators)”, “Fund raising event at Sqwires 2005 (100 spectators)”, “Show Me Sun Splash 2005 (500 spectators)”, “Earth Day at Forest Park since 2001” and many more. Capoeira Brasil of St. Louis also appeared live on Fox 2 News in the morning in 2005.