Capoeira Art Dance

Capoeira Arts Dance’s goal is to teach and promote Afro Brazilian Dance and Capoeira.

We strive to create memorable, happy, and empowering moments in every class! Through encouragement and hard training at our studio or performances and events, every day at CAD is tailored to be special and uplifting!

Programs

Capoeira and Flow movement with Mestre Alegria

To someone looking at Capoeira for the first time in a performance or demonstration, the art will look like some sort of choreographed dance. However, this is far from the truth.

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art characterized by powerful kicks, fluid movements, music, and dodges called esquivas. Capoeira strikes involve the use of the shins, feet, knees, elbows, head butts, open-palms, and various sweeps. In 2014, Unesco designated Capoeira as an “intangible cultural heritage”, and today the art is practiced all over the world.

Afro Brazilian Dance with Janete Da Silva

Brazilian dance is extremely rich and diverse in culture. It contains elements of African that blended and formed a unique and fascinating catalogue of styles.

The Afro Brazilian dance has a substantial movement vocabulary inherited from African ancestors through oral tradition. This dance style was first recorded in the composition of African religions. With time, it has gained new meanings and expressions and has also incorporated some of the native cultures. Agility and release of head, shoulders, arms, torso and hips are common points of movements, ranging from intense energy, sluggishness and sensuality. Bent knees and feet strongly marking the rhythm show the connection with the earth.

Ready to join a program?

CAD Founders

Creating high Impact for our Community.

Capoeira Arts Dance

5.0

Based on 45 reviews

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Caroline Catz

06:03 08 Mar 26

I love capoiera because I love taking classes with Mestre Alegria! It’s more than just a class it’s a community of friends!

Alvin Mui

20:51 04 Mar 26

Mestre Alegria is a must stop destination in NYC for capoeira. You are definitely in for a treat whenever you go to class.

Patrick Pompili

22:46 17 Jan 26

The best kind of workout you can get. Cardio, self defense, movement. But the best part is the community of students and Mestre Algeria’s teaching. I look forward to every class and you won’t regret checking it out for yourself!

shem alleyne

02:40 17 Jan 26

Capoeira Mestre Alegria’s class is incredible. He is an extraordinary capoeirista—patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely fun to learn from. His guidance creates a welcoming space where everyone can grow and enjoy the process. The crew is fantastic, and the energy is always great—especially when Gafanhoto is there.

Peterson Faina

00:21 17 Jan 26

What I love about this place is that the kids learn so much more than Capoeira. They learn how to work together, communicate, and build confidence. I can’t wait for my youngest to be eligible to join the fun

Lisa Clark

22:23 10 Jan 26

Mestre Alegria and Instrotura Aide are extremely rare people. They are super talented, kind and welcoming, and seem to inspire a sense of community wherever they go. Because of the kind of energy they create and attract, there is 0 toxicity in the community of this group. The community includes a wide range of skill levels, with some practicing for decades and some just starting, and yet each class is created in a way that beginners can feel welcomed while more advanced capoeiristas hone their skills - everyone gets challenged! The classes are thoughtfully designed - you can tell that Mestre Alegria thinks a lot about how the class will build and relate to other classes and how to teach and correct technique so that people can follow. There is a foundations class (which focuses on perfecting particular moves and techniques, including advanced ones, as well as simple combinations) and a combination class (which trains combination and flow) as well as a longer Saturday class that includes plenty of time to work music and skills in the roda. Classes are 1.5 hours, or 2 hours on Saturday. There is also a kids class! Both Mestre Alegria and Instrotura Aide encourage cultural learning and bring a lot of wisdom. Every class or roda, the energy will leave you feeling better than when you came in - come by and get addicted, make your life more beautiful!

Nicole Carvalho

18:32 10 Jan 26

My kids have been coming to Mestre Alegria’s kids capoeira class for 2 years and I honestly can’t say enough good things about CADNY. Our Brazilian American family came expecting a fun way to keep our kids active and have instead found culture, friendship, fitness and a second family here at CADNY. We were so impressed with our kids growth in such a short period of time that my husband began taking classes again for the first time in over 15 years. Mestre Alegria keeps class fun and engaging for our children aged 5 and 7 through movement, music - they are learning to play traditional Brazilian instruments used during the capoeira roda and play. He also ensures adult classes are appropriately challenging and provides excellent feedback fostering the growth of each individual student. CADNY is second to none for high quality capoeira instruction for the entire family at any skill level, in a great location and at a great price. OBRIGADA CADNY!

Kristina Douglass

23:03 09 Jan 26

I’ve been training with Mestre Alegria for two years, and my kids take classes with him as well. He is extremely professional and deeply community focused, and that shows in everything he does. Classes are well run, start on time, and communication with students and parents is clear and reliable. As a busy parent, I really appreciate how well organized he is as a teacher.

This is a very family friendly group. Mestre Alegria is supportive of parents and thoughtful about how kids learn and grow. My children have gained confidence and focus, and they really enjoy being part of the group.

As an adult student, I value how intentional he is as a teacher. He takes teaching capoeira seriously while keeping the environment welcoming and respectful. There is a strong sense of care for the art, the history, and the people in the room.

This has been a meaningful community for both me and my kids, and I recommend his classes wholeheartedly.

Jonathan Johnson

16:44 07 Jan 26

Maestre Alegria is one the most inspirational people I know. He is incredibly gifted at motivating you to do what you never thought you could and bringing out the best in every student . You can feel how much he cares about his students and pours so much into the capoeira community. Classes here will help you improve your strength, coordination, technique and is overall give you a sense of fulfillment that carries over in other areas. I feel very grateful to have found them.