Salt Lake Capoeira

Salt Lake Capoeira is holding an introductory class at the SLC Arts Hub on Wednesday, October 21, led by Mestre Jamaika Romualdo. It's open to all ages, so you can bring the kids along or just come by yourself if you've ever been curious about what capoeira actually is.

If you're not familiar, capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that blends movement, culture, music and philosophy. It brings together kicks, ground work, self-defense, acrobatics and tradition, all played out in a circle called a roda. It was created by enslaved Africans in Brazil more than 500 years ago, and through the work of Mestre Bimba and others, it grew into a recognized art form that anyone can play, regardless of age or size. This class is an entry point into that world, so you don't need any prior experience to join in.

Leading the session is Mestre Jamaika, known to his students as Mauro Romualdo, an internationally recognized practitioner who has been teaching students and audiences of all ages for over 30 years. He was born in the heart of capoeira's birthplace, discovered as a young child, and his acrobatic talent took him to the world stage. He moved to Israel to live and teach in 1998 and to the United States in 1999. A three-time Brazilian Capoeira Confederation Champion, he has run the Salt Lake Capoeira studio since 2005 and was recently named a Utah Performing Arts Fellow.

The class takes place on Wednesday, October 21, at the SLC Arts Hub in Salt Lake City. It's an introductory session, so it's a good time to get a feel for the movement and the music without needing to commit to anything long-term. If you're interested, the studio is located at 663 100 S, Salt Lake City, UT.