Capoeira Calgary

Welcome to Axé Capoeira in Calgary
Axé Capoeira is an organization dedicated the celebration of Brazilian culture in Calgary through the practice of Capoeira and Brazilian dance as a means of developing self-expression and personal identity. Since, May 2005, the group has been registered as Axé Society for Capoeira and has been performing and offering classes all around Calgary as well as educational workshops at schools and community organizations. Musician and Capoeira Professor Elvio Dos Santos, known in Capoeira as Professor Tigrão, came to Canada from Brazil six years ago in order to work with Calgarians to advance their understanding and practice of the art of Capoeira and diverse forms

Brazilian dance. His over twenty years of experience in Brazil teaching and performing both Capoeira and Brazilian dance has served as a basis for developing a creative and motivated group in Calgary. Developed over 500 years ago by African slaves in Brazil, Capoeira has its roots in Afro-Brazilian culture and was said to be both a form of cultural expression and self-defense. During the last two decades, Capoeira has grown immensely as an artistic activity that incorporates rhythmic and physical expression, and can now be seen in diverse settings across the globe. Played in the middle of a circle called a roda, Capoeira involves fluid movements that create a dialogue between two people. This dialogue is further influenced by music created by instruments, such as the berimbau, atabaque (drum) and the pandeiro (tambourine) and sung by all people in the circle. All these elements combine to create a Capoeira roda, or circle, in which various forms of communication converge to create improvised and communal expression.