Support Our Capoeira Project in Madagascar

Honoring Heritage, Movement, and Community

In the coastal village of Andavadoaka, southwest Madagascar, something powerful is unfolding. 

It is a movement that bridges past and present through the art of Capoeira.

Our Capoeira project, created in collaboration with Dr. Kristina Douglass, Associate Professor at Columbia University, the Morombe Archaeological Project (MAP), and the local NGO VAEVAE, is part of a long-term anthropological and archaeological effort to understand how communities and the extraordinary landscapes and seascapes of southwest Madagascar have co-evolved over centuries.

Madagascar 1
Madagascar 3
Madagascar 2
Madagascar 4
WhatsApp Image 2026-03-03 at 22.39.32

What began as a small local initiative has blossomed into a vibrant cultural space where more than 100 children and over 70 adults come together to learn, move, and celebrate.

Capoeira is more than a martial art.

It is a practice of music, history, and resilience that teaches discipline, connection, and creativity. Through Capoeira, we are helping to amplify and honor local artistic traditions by creating new spaces for movement and cultural expression. Far from replacing local practices, Capoeira offers a complementary thread that resonates with the deep African heritage of Madagascar and brings renewed global attention to its living cultural landscapes.

Why We Need Your Support

Our work is community-led and grounded in reciprocity and respect. We offer free Capoeira and music classes, workshops, and cultural exchanges open to everyone, including children, youth, and elders alike. Everything we do is made possible by the dedication of local teachers and volunteers, and by the generosity of people who believe in the power of art to sustain communities.

Your support helps us provide:

Even small contributions have a lasting impact. They help sustain a space of joy, creativity, and collective strength where cultural heritage is celebrated and community continues to grow.

Your Donations Can Help

We invite individuals, organizations, and businesses to join us in this work. You can support by offering financial donations, in-kind contributions, or simply by sharing our story.

Contribute to our Project

This project is more than Capoeira. It is a celebration of dignity, identity, and interconnection, and part of a broader effort to document, revitalize, and sustain the cultural and ecological knowledge that has long guided life in this extraordinary region.

 

For more information or to get involved, please contact cadny0@gmail.com

Axé,

 

Mestre Alegria

Capoeira Project – Andavadoaka, Madagascar

We value your support:

  • Support us with you Donations by using Zelle.
  • Select your bank
  • Follow the step on you bank platform
 
Or click here to start supporting us:
Contribute to our Project
Madgascar - Cadny - donation

Creating High Impact For Our Community.

Capoeira Arts Dance
5.0
powered by Google
review us on
Caroline C.
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 M.
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 P.
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 A.
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 F.
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 C.
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 C.
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 D.
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 J.
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.