Free Capoeira Community Workshop Weekend (Messages from a Mestre)

Join us for Messages from a Mestre (MFAM) — a powerful weekend of cultural immersion through Capoeira Angola, the traditional Afro-Brazilian art that fuses music, dance, and martial movement. Led by Mestre Themba, the first African American Capoeira Master, this free two-day experience in SoCal invites participants to explore heritage, rhythm, and community leadership through interactive workshops, live performances, and vibrant rodas (capoeira circles).

Come learn, move, and connect with a living tradition that has inspired generations to turn resistance into art and community into strength.

THE MESTRES (MASTERS) FACILITATING

Mestre Themba Mashama

For over three decades, Mestre Themba has carried the lineage of Capoeira Angola with quiet strength and deep purpose. As the first African American Capoeira Angola Mestre, his work bridges the martial, musical, and spiritual dimensions of the art. A trained therapist and anthropologist, he integrates healing, history, and self-mastery into his teaching, calling students to self-direct their growth—to study the details, honor the music, and find their own voice within tradition. Through his school, N’Gola Preto Velho, he cultivates self-reliant communities grounded in ancestry, discipline, and cultural preservation.

Mestre Curtis Pierre

Known as one of the early ambassadors of Afro-Brazilian culture in the United States, Mestre Curtis has dedicated decades to teaching Capoeira Angola, samba, and traditional Brazilian percussion. Based in New Orleans, he founded Casa Samba, the first Brazilian cultural organization in the U.S. His approach combines performance, education, and community uplift—using the rhythm and ritual of Capoeira Angola to connect African diasporic traditions across the Americas. His mentorship and cross-cultural work have inspired generations of artists and capoeiristas to see the art not only as a practice of the body, but as a living vessel of history, rhythm, and resistance.

AGENDA

SAT, DEC 13 (12-5P) at THE PULSE, 479 W 4TH ST, SAN BERNARDINO

• Poet / Artist Showcase

• Community Forum: How Capoeira can help communities navigate turbulent social & political times.

• Music & Movement Workshops, led by Mestres Themba & Curtis.

• Capoeira demonstration roda

SUN, DEC 14 (12-5P) at EL SERENO GARDEN, 5466 HUNTINGTON DR, LA

• Percussion Workshop, Led by Mestre curtis, exploring African & Brazilian rhythms (bring a drum!)

• Music & Movement workshops led by Mestres Themba & Curtis.

• Formal Whites Roda

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS!

Alliance for California Traditional Arts

This project has been made possible (or, made possible in part) by a grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, in partnership with the California Arts Council, a state agency, the Walter & Elise Haas Fund, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

BLU Educational Foundation

Thank you to our San Bernardino community partner for helping share our message locally and build trust right here in our own backyard.

About Stronger Together Now

Stronger Together Now is a community-based wellness and creative hub in Downtown San Bernardino dedicated to restoring connection through art, movement, and healing. The space hosts cultural programs, workshops, and local gatherings that bring together artists, educators, and residents to cultivate belonging and collective strength. Through its partnerships with local organizations and teaching artists, Stronger Together Now serves as a vital meeting ground for people committed to building healthier, more connected communities across the Inland Empire.

About El Sereno Gardens

El Sereno Gardens is an urban sanctuary in East Los Angeles that blends gardening, art, and cultural education to reconnect people with the land and each other. The space hosts community events, capoeira classes, and outdoor gatherings that celebrate ancestral practices and sustainable living. Rooted in the idea that cultivation is both physical and spiritual, El Sereno Gardens offers a refuge for reflection, creativity, and cultural exchange — nurturing growth from the soil to the soul.

About the Garcia Center for the Arts

For over two years, The Garcia Center has also been the home of our Capoeira Angola school — a space where movement, music, and culture come together to teach discipline, self-expression, and connection. The Garcia Center continues to be a vital gathering place where art and community meet to inspire growth and belonging.