Brazilian dance and movement
I began training capoeira with Mestre Piau of Grupo Candeias while living in Limerick, Ireland. I later trained as a student in Mestre Curisco’s Grupo Capoeira Malês beginning in 2008. I started practicing with Capoeira Malês in in Chico, and then I continued to train with the Capoeira Malês DC branch in Washington, DC.
I began studying frevo in Recife, Brazil while on a postdoctoral Fulbright grant in 2018. I danced with Guerreiros do Passo, Brincantes das Ladeiras, Mexe com Tudo (Otávio Bastos), and Escola Municipal de Frevo (Júnior Viegas). I also took capoeira classes at Perna Pesada Capoeira Academy, as well as cavalo marinho and maracatu rural classes with Fabinho Soares.
I am currently studying frevo under Otávio Bastos through Mexe Com Tudo, which also involves frevo dance pedagogy and mentorship for frevo teachers using the Mexe Com Tudo method. I teach regular frevo classes through EducArte in College Park.
I also participate in samba no pé, samba de gafieira, forró, and other Brazilian dance communities in the DC area.
