 Mestre Preguiça has taught Capoeira for more than 40 years. Growing up
homeless in Bahia, Brazil, he is able to relate his own experiences
with the reality of at-risk youth in San Francisco. He trained with
Brazil's legendary Mestre Bimba from the age of 12 until he was
graduated to Mestre in 1963. In 1965 he moved to Rio de Janeiro and
co-founded Grupo Senzala. Which, in 20 years, Senzala gained worldwide
recognition and became the prominent Capoeira style in Brazil. During
his years in Rio De Janeiro, Mestre Preguiça graduated ten mestres.
After touring 23 countries with the Brazilian Dance Company and
receiving degrees in law and physical education, he came to the Bay
Area to expand the art in the United States, and founded Omulu Capoeira
Group in 1984.
Mestre Preguiça has been on the faculty of the Department of Dance at
San Francisco State University since 1989, and is Recreation Director
with the San Francisco Department of Recreation and Parks. He has
directed performances at venues including the Yerba Buena Center for
the Arts, Zellerbach Auditorium, Dance Mission, Roccapulco, the Stern
Grove Festival, the Mayor's Commission for youth, and San Francisco
Juvenile Hall. In 1995 Mestre Preguiça began the Omulu Community Action
Project. He has taught youth classes and workshops at numerous
community centers and public schools including Harvey Milk and Mission
Recreation Centers, Mission Dolores Gym, Horizons Unlimited, St.
Mary's, Mission High and Everett Middle School. Mestre Preguiça's
passion for the art and his commitment to helping people improve their
lives through Capoeira is admirable and incomparable.
|
Mestre Preguica
