NOLA Capoeira Announces Spring Event, Community Welcome!

NOLA Capoeira and the Capoeira and Brazilian Cultural Arts Center (CBCAC) announce their annual Spring Batizado and Tournament from Thursday, April 4 to Saturday, April 6, 2024. This exciting three-day event will take place at the NOLA Capoeira academy on North Broad Street.

This event will highlight capoeira workshops with Mestre Cocada (Rogerio da Silva), a visiting capoeira master from Goioerê, Paraná, Brazil. Mestre Cocada will also help honor students during three separate batizado and troca de corda ceremonies. A batizado is a ceremony for students who have earned their first belt in the art of capoeira. A troca de corda is when students who have already earned their first belt are promoted to the next level, similar to belt promotion ceremonies in other martial arts.

The first ceremony, for children ages 5-8, will be held on Thursday, April 4 at 5 p.m. The second ceremony, for children ages 9-12 and teenagers, will be held on Friday, April 5 at 5 p.m. The third ceremony, for adults, will also take place on Friday, April 5 at 8 p.m.

The event will culminate with the annual tournament on Saturday, April 6 at 10 a.m., where students will compete against one another using the skills and techniques they have been training throughout the past year. NOLA Capoeira and the CBCAC invite the community to visit the NOLA Capoeira academy at 1016 N. Broad Street to watch the ceremonies and annual tournament in person.

Community members will have the opportunity to learn more about the Afro-Brazilian martial art while supporting participants. Doors open 30 minutes before all event activities, and admission is free to the public.