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Capoeira Luanda of St. Louis is a 501 (c) (3)
non-profit organization dedicated to the growth and development of
Capoeira (Afro-Brazilian art form) in the St. Louis community.
Capoeira Luanda of St. Louis was formed in 2000 with the help
of Mestre Jelon Vieira. Capoeira Luanda of St. Louis has
and will continue to perform in the many cultural and international
festivals around the St. Louis community. The organization also
provides Capoeira workshops to the local schools and youth
programs.
Capoeira Luanda of St. Louis started as a
small no name group in the St. Louis area getting together and
trying to learn the art of Capoeira on their own. We soon discovered
that this was a very cultural art form and that without someone from
Brazil with a background in the art this would be impossible.
So we started to travel to various Capoeira workshops around the
United States to get whatever knowledge we could about
Capoeira. Then we met Mestre Jelon
Vieira, renowned dance choreographer and
Master of Capoeira. He informed us that he had plans to start
a group in St. Louis, MO. At the time it didn’t make since to
have two groups in St. Louis and we would still be without an
instructor. So we worked with Mestre Jelon to form
Capoeira Luanda of St. Louis and acquired one of Mestre’s top
students Professor Borracha. At first we started with about
fifteen members and rented small training spaces around the St.
Louis community. We then started training on the St. Louis
University campus. St. Louis University was kind enough to
provide us with a free space to help us grow. Through the help
of St. Louis University we were able to grow our
membership. As a result of this growth we were able to lease
our own studio at 1317 Washington Ave. in downtown St. Louis back in
2002. We stayed at that location for about 3 years. We
have now combined forces with World Arts of St.
Louis (founded by David Holcomb).
Now we are located in a wonderful studio in Hazelwood,
MO.
In April of 2001 we became a
501 (c) (3) non-profit organization and have been working hard to
keep the growth and development of Capoeira going strong.
Capoeira Luanda
of St. Louis has performed 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.
Please contact us for performance or workshop
at your next event.
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