Rolha Capoeira

1 minute read

São Paulo’s Naima Yazbek (full name Fernanda Yazbek Pereira) is an accomplished capoeirista and dancer, and she’s found her true calling in using her skills as a tool for activism. Uniquely talented and connected to her heritage in Lebanon, she’s been helping others use art as therapy and as a means of fighting for civil rights. Yazbek was recently interviewed by Lebanese-Brazilian magazine ConnectionBeirut on her artistic pursuits as well as her social work.

“In 1991 I started capoeira in Sao Paulo. After graduating in psychology I did a specialization in Psycho-Physical integration and psychotherapy. Despite of not performing those majors formally I used my education to contribute in poor communities in Brazil. Capoeira involves fight, game, dance, sport, self-defense, and music and is a great instrument of art and education.”

Read more of ConnectionBeirut’s interview with Naima Yazbek at Naima Yazbek: the artist who empowers women in Lebanon.