I began Capoeira in 1988, initially in London: there were only a handful of us training at that time and only a few options available in terms of who to train with.
I have trained and taught in many countries over the decades including Brazil, Russia, Australia, Greece, Germany, Sweden, Norway.
In 1997, Capoeira Norte established the first Capoeira organisation in the Midlands and the North. Offering regular weekly classes and workshops at Manchester University; Leeds University; Huddersfield University and Birmingham Custard Factory (eventually moving to Birmingham DanceXchange).
In 2001 I was awarded the level of Professor.
Capoeira Norte and Urban Expansions -1997-2006
I trained students full-time at my Capoeira schools at Manchester University, Leeds University and Dance XChange Birmingham. During this time I formed the performance company Urban Expansion and worked with many professional theatre and dance companies to explore the fusion of Capoeira with contemporary dance, breaking and other forms. Companies included Wim Vandekeybus and Ultima Vez; Kokuma; Sadlers Wells Breakin’ Convention.
Capoeira is a beautiful and complex cultural - artistic - political form.
Eventually, due to negative experiences and observing questionable moral and ethical behaviours, I became disillusioned with the structure of the Master-Student relationship and all that it entails.
I do not believe in Masters because it is a notion that extends beyond the mere mastery of movement. It is a position (a title) that comes with a duty of care, a need for empathy, a knowledge of peoples socio-economic and socio-political circumstances and much more. But, perhaps most importantly, it demands a recognition of the complex and nuanced power dynamics within the student-master relationship, and I have all too often seen these ignored or abused.
I continue to use Capoeira, it is a part of me. It is far more than movement. The concept of ‘ginga’ guides the way I balance in life, the way in which I sway, and the way in which I recognise and utilise ‘malicia’ .
