Community Capoeira in Des Moines, IA
CALL US: 1-515-661-4556
Our Roots
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Mestre Xará
(12/08/1980 to 01/01/2013)
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Mestre Xará (Mauro de Freitas Valadão) was born in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and was a student of Mestre Chicote. He started playing Capoeira in 1994 in community groups located in Unai, Minas Gerais, Brazil. At the age of 17 he moved to Patos de Minas, Minas Gerais, and began training with group Raízes - Cordão de Ouro led under the instruction of Mestre Chicote. In the year 2000, Xará was entrusted in leading the teachings of the group Raízes - Cordão de Ouro in Patos de Minas when Mestre Chicote moved to the United States. In the year 2004, Mestre Xará began his international adventures in sharing and teaching his Capoeira knowledge and relocated with his wife, Monitora Cajú, to Des Moines, IA. In 2009, his teachings and groups expanded to reach Long Beach and Los Angeles, CA and the country of Costa Rica.
Xará dedicated his life to promoting and sharing Capoeira all over the United States and the world. His Capoeira teaching and life philosophy was focused towards preserving and promoting Afro-Brazilian culture through inspirational professional instruction and performance of Capoeira and related Brazilian dance and music.
Using traditional Brazilian arts as a medium, Mestre Xará sought to inspire and empower people of all ages, to realize their full potential as responsible, confident, healthy and productive citizens. Through his experience and study with Mestre Chicote and various other Mestres in his Capoeira life and travels, Mestre Xará believed in a Capoeira practice and philosophy that strives to move forward, keeping one foot in the past and one foot in the future - maintaining Capoeira traditions while adapting to worldly and societal changes.
Mestre Xará was taken too early from this world and passed away on January, 1, 2013 of a brain tumor. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and many of his Capoeira students, friends and teachers.
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Mestre Duas Dúzias
Mestre Duas Dúzias (Cristiano Viana da Silva) began practicing capoeira in 1992 in Viçosa (MG), Brazil. In 1996, he joined the Raízes Cordão de Ouro group under Instructor Mingau, a student of Mestre Zé Paulo. After Mingau's departure in 1998,
Duas Dúzias continued his training with Mestre Zé Paulo and Mestre Suassuna, eventually taking over leadership of the group in Viçosa and launching social projects in schools and academies. In 2007, he moved to Honolulu, USA, to lead Cordão de Ouro Hawaii, teaching in universities, schools, and cultural institutions while participating in events across 13+ U.S. states.
In 2010, he was recognized as Professor by Mestre Suassuna at Mestre Acordeon’s academy, and in 2011, was awarded the title of Contra-Mestre. He returned to Brazil the same year, continuing his work in Viçosa while maintaining international ties. From 2013 onward, he traveled extensively for workshops and events in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.
In 2018, he was awarded the title of Mestre at Capoeirando in Ilhéus (BA). Today, Mestre Duas Dúzias remains active in both Viçosa and Honolulu, guiding capoeira communities and promoting its cultural legacy worldwide.