"Bate Papo" Conversation with Capoeira Masters

C. Daniel Dawson (presenter); Joao Grande; Jelon Vieiro ;NEA National Heritage Fellows Mestre Joan Grande and Mestre Jelon Vieira discuss the origins and migrations of capoeira, from Brazil to the United States, and back to Brazil. Both capoeira masters from New York City, they will demonstrate capoeira Angola style and "regional" style in an interactive workshop along with several of their students. Grande, a grand master of capoeira Angola, first learned the art from Mestre Pastinha, who continues to be his primary source of inspiration. As founder and artistic director of The Capoeira Foundation and DanceBrazil, Viera and the late Loremil Machado were the first artists to bring traditional Afro-Brazilian dance and capoeira to the United States over thirty years ago.