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Danca Da Liberdade
The capoeira group Danca Da Liberdade was founded in Brazil
by Mestre Guimba on 14th August 1999, in Campo Grande, in
the West of Rio de Janeiro, on the same day that Mestre Guimba
was awarded his first mestre belt.
Mestre Guimba was awarded the title of Mestre by his father,
Mestre Sergio Luiz Dos Santos (more commonly known as ‘Indio’).
Indio learned the art of capoeira with Mestre Celso Carvalho
Do Nascimento (known as Mestre Celso de Pilares) who was
a student of the great Mestre Artur Emidio.
Danca Da Liberdade has come to England with the aim of continuing
the work which is already being carried out in Brazil. The
group works primarily with children and adults from the ‘communidades’
(underprivileged communitites) of Rio de Janeiro and people
with mental and physical difficulties – as well as those
in need of help with co-ordination and fitness!
Danca Da Liberdade brings capoeira to those who need it, through
organising community projects in Brazil and England, carrying
out school workshops (mainly with primary schools) and putting
on performances and events to spread the knowledge of capoeira
generally.
Mestre do destaque – New Master
Marcelo Oliveira Dos Santos, better known as Mestre Guimba,
began playing capoeira at the age of two, training with his
father, Mestre Sergio Luiz Dos Santos (student of Mestre Celso
de Pilares). He is also an actor and accomplished percussionist
and has done extensive work for television, theatre and cinema.
It was playing capoeira that gave Mestre Guimba the opportunity
to begin his artistic career. Spotted by the great director,
Caca Diegues while playing in a capoeira roda in ‘Quinta
da Boavista’ in Rio de Janeiro, at the age of three,
Marcelo was invited to take part in the seminal film, 'Quilombo'
which tells the story of the slave Zumbi dos Palmares.
Why Guimba?
Guimba was the name of one of Marcelo’s most famous
television roles, in the programme Armacao Ilimitada for TV
Globo.
Mestre Guimba made the leap from Brazil to Europe, and is
today teaching across South London. He has recorded two cds of his own music together with students from the group in London, and is currently preparing the third. He came with the aim
of fulfilling the promise he made to the group in Brazil:
to spread the name of capoeira and to help the group Danca
Da Liberdade grow and flourish across the world.
In December 2003 he awarded the first Instructor belt to Gekitiba, then in December 2005 to Instructors Curiosa, Feiticera, Ken and Catango.
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