Capoeira Angola for Teens

Capoeira Angola is an afro brazilian martial art dance created by the captured enslaved Africans that were brought to Brazil and the indigenous people that were already in Brazil.

It is a liberatory art form, developed from a need to find freedom from oppression. It enables our ability to not only survive but thrive in dangerous environments. In Capoeira Class we will learn movements that look like breakdancing but are essentially reciprocal in nature and done with a partner either in the form of a question or an answer. We will learn a corporal interaction with one other that can look like a dance or a fight or both.

Capoeira Angola was cultivated by peoples escaping the brutal slave trade of Brazil. Many enslaved Africans escaped to Quilombos, autonomous places of refuge born from solidarity between indigenous communities and African maroons. These communities resisted colonial violence and power through intimate knowledge of the lands they inhabited. The land was a source of nourishment and medicine, as well as a source for spiritual reverence and connection. It was also this deep knowledge of the rugged terrain and dense forests that allowed Quilombos to consistently protect their communities from colonial infiltration for decades.

Contramestre Taganyahu "Tagan" Swaby (Gaza) is known for his vibrant energy and emphasis on Capoeira Angola as a liberatory art form and holistic healing practice. His innovative approach to teaching and his commitment to the art's cultural roots have inspired many. Tagan's work extends beyond the practice itself, emphasizing Capoeira Angola as a tool for social change and community development. Taganyahu is an acupuncturist and bodyworker. A 16 year practitioner of the internal art of Qi Gong. He has practiced Capoeira Angola for 25 years. Originally from Jamaica, Tagan first began training in Capoeira Angola in Bahia, Brazil in 2000. He has trained extensively with his Mestres, Mestre João Grande, Mestre Boca do Rio, and Mestre Alberto "Chorão" Nunes. 

In 2010, Tagan founded the Brooklyn branch of Quilombo do Acupe (formerly Angoleiros do Brooklyn). In 2018, he went on to receive the title of Professor from his Mestre, Mestre Chorão. He has created, directed, and participated in presentations for the Brooklyn Museum, BAM Dance Africa, and the International African Street Festival in Brooklyn. He has stewarded the first Saturday monthly outdoor roda at the Brooklyn Museum for the last 20 years. Originally trained as a visual artist, Tagan explores and celebrates Capoeira Angola in his award-winning films, Se Safando and Flavio, and through printmaking. He currently practices at Yaad Wellness and leads classes at Quilombo do Acupe’s GCAA's chapter in upstate New York group.