northeastern brazil

  • Creating space for women and children in capoeira

    Byadmin

    Mestra Di leads the group Luz di Angola, and its associated children’s group Luz di Angolinha in Olinda, Pernambuco. She identifies as a Black and Indigenous woman and, born and raised in the area she teaches, Mestra Di has lived experience of the challenges that her students face. Through her personal journey, too, she has developed a critical eye on the conservatism in many capoeira groups, and she uses her practice to open the space for children, women and gender non-conforming players.

  • Traditional culture as a catalyst for transformation

    Byadmin

    Apollo is a flute player from Ceará, Northeastern Brazil. He has played the flute since he was a child, and is now a teacher and performer. Apollo describes his mission as rescuing traditional music and songs as a way to bring back their associated insights and understandings. Key to his vision is the conviction that music has the power to support transformation through facilitating expression and communication. He has observed music supporting transformation in his students, and attests to its centrality in his own gender transition.