Afro-Brazilian Dance, Defense, and Resistance
Ithaca Capoeira
Who We Are
Ithaca Capoeira (formerly Ithaca Capoeira Angola Quintal) is a community of collaboration, offering inclusive and accessible capoeira classes here in Upstate and Central New York.
Invented by enslaved Africans in Brazil, capoeira is a self-defense disguised as a dance. Influenced by a blend of dances from diverse African cultures, capoeira was practiced as a hidden, playful game to fool the slave owners.
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Today, capoeira is internationally popular as an exciting way to strengthen the mind, body, spirit, and sense of connection. Its blend of dance, self-defense, acrobatics, music, and social awareness makes it a unique and enriching practice. As a workout, it develops one's fitness, strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, rhythm, agility, reflexes, and endurance. Capoeira gets more enjoyable the longer one practices, and it brings together people of all backgrounds and circumstances.
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Our members and teachers work together to create a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for learning and exploration in this art. The local community is not built upon group affiliations or hierarchical structures.
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We welcome all to practice, play, observe, and participate to whatever degree they are comfortable.
