Founded in 1997 under the artistic direction of Linda Yudin and Luiz Badaró, the Los Angeles-based Viver Brasil captivates audiences with its irrepressible blend of bold Afro-Brazilian dance theater and exuberant physicality, power, and passion drawn from orixa movement and rhythms, samba, capoeira, dança afro and bloco afro styles.

The Berkeley school … is renowned globally due to the work of … Mestre Acordeon, who began the school in Berkeley in 1997… He and his wife, Suellen Einarsen, known as Mestra Suelly, are preparing to retire from their role in day-to-day operations…

The beauty of the art form he says is the community aspect of it which brings everyone together. “The principles and values it places is on an entire community becoming stronger, together. In capoeira, we never ‘fight’, we ‘play’. The best part about it is the diversity which really makes you push yourself,” he says.

Have you heard about an art form called “Capoeira Angola?” Well, it’s Afro-Brazilian art form that combines acrobatics, dancing, fighting, and music. One non-government organization is using this to help vulnerable children and those in conflict with the law. How? to tell us more about this, we’re joined by Jaime Leandro Benedicto from Project Bantu Philippines and Juvy Mae Navarro, social worker from the Social Welfare Department.

The Culture of Fitness is a four-part series that will explore fitness regimens from different cultures and how their methods compare and contrast to a traditional gym routine. This week is all about capoeira.