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The New York Capoeira Center Renovation Project

The renovation of the New York Capoeira Center's new space allows for expanded programming, lighting the fire of capoeira for thousands of NYC youth each year.

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The New York Capoeira Center Renovation Project

The New York Capoeira Center Renovation Project

The New York Capoeira Center Renovation Project

The New York Capoeira Center Renovation Project

The New York Capoeira Center Renovation Project

The renovation of the New York Capoeira Center's new space allows for expanded programming, lighting the fire of capoeira for thousands of NYC youth each year.

The renovation of the New York Capoeira Center's new space allows for expanded programming, lighting the fire of capoeira for thousands of NYC youth each year.

The renovation of the New York Capoeira Center's new space allows for expanded programming, lighting the fire of capoeira for thousands of NYC youth each year.

The renovation of the New York Capoeira Center's new space allows for expanded programming, lighting the fire of capoeira for thousands of NYC youth each year.

Michael Goldstein
Michael Goldstein
Michael Goldstein
Michael Goldstein
1 Campaign |
New York, United States
$6,095 USD 50 backers
33% of $18,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

Who We Are: Afro Brazil Arts is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) youth development organization whose mission is to inspire achievement, leadership and community through Capoeira, a Brazilian self-defense and dance. For nearly 25 years, we have motivated over one million youth through performances and classes featuring Brazilian Capoeira, dance and music, and in schools and community centers throughout the US and Brazil. Our goal is to raise money to renovate our new space, where we will continue to engage and inspire children and young adults through Capoeira.

Our Location: Our studio is located in the Clemente Soto Velez Center, a building that has barely changed over the last 100 years. Renovating our new space will take a lot of work.

What is Capoeira?Capoeira is a martial art developed by African slaves in Brazil in the 1700s. Players participate in games that are accompanied by traditional Brazilian music and folk songs. It teaches players constraint, strategy and how to be mindful of their capoeira partner. 

                                   

Students learn the following skills in our classes: 

Self-defense, fitness and mind-body coordination – Students learn kicks, acrobatics, evasive movements and other defensive skills to use in their games.

Life skills – They work individually, with partners, and together as a community to build communication, teamwork and leadership skills.

How to play musical instruments – We teach students how to play the pandeiro (a type of tambourine), berimbau (a stringed instrument played during Capoeira games), and a variety of percussion instruments as part of their Capoeira instruction.

Portuguese language skills and voice – Students learn traditional Portuguese songs that are sung during games.

Our Impact: Many public schools have done away with music, dance and physical education classes because of budgetary constraints. But these types of extra-curricular activities are important for children and help them be physically fit. We have found that children are engaged by capoeira:

Capoeira connects students to a shared history: Many students feel a connection to Capoeira's Afro Brazilian roots. It not only sparks their interest in the history of the African diaspora in Brazil, but leads them to ask questions and explore aspects of their own backgrounds.

The martial arts aspect of capoeira provides students with self-confidence that carries over into other disciplines: When a student finds that they can do a controlled cartwheel or when they feel the support of the class following their lead on a song, they feel a heightened sense of accomplishment, inner strength, and confidence that helps them tackle other complex topics inside and outside of the classroom.

Children learn to build bonds with each other: Capoeira is a unique type of martial art where players learn to be mindful of their capoeira partner and watch out for their well-being. Because of this, children learn how to work with each other while maintaining a competitive spirit.       

       

Why We Need Your Help: The Clemente Soto Velez organization granted us the use of more space in the building. We want to use this space to hold more community events, children and adult classes and to host school groups who visit us to learn more about Capoeira and Brazilian culture. This new space will need a lot of work in order to convert it into a Capoeira studio. Because the building is owned by the city, we will need to employ union electricians and apply for certain city permits. With your donations we will be able to do the following:

Hire a city certified electrician to wire the new space:  The wiring in the space needs to be updated so that it can handle running the fans, air conditioning, and sound system needed to hold classes in the room.

Apply for all the necessary permits to do our renovations: Because the building is city owned, we have to apply for electrical licenses and permits, and other construction permits.

Refinishing the floors: Students practice Capoeira barefoot, and so it is important that our floors are smooth and clean.  We plan to install sustainable bamboo flooring.

Our Budget: This is a projected budget we've prepared to give you an idea as to how we've planned to allocate the funds (budget is based on reaching our goal).

                                   

Every dollar helps us update our space and provide more classes to the community. As a thank you for your donation we have a series of perks that you may choose from. Among these perks, we provide the opportunity for you to sponsor a child to take Capoeira classes at our academy. We have also set up perks for corporate donors. 

For more information on our organization, please go to http://www.afrobrazilarts.org/

Information on our children’s and adult classes can be found at http://newyorkCapoeira.com/

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Choose your Perk

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Two Weeks of Classes

$50 USD
Your contribution deserves a special treat -- you and someone close to you will receive two weeks of classes plus two tote bags.
8 claimed

Special message

$25 USD
Wow! Thanks so much. You will receive a special card signed by Mestre Ombrinho.
5 claimed

Scholarship #1

$50 USD
Thank you! Your donation will provide a child on scholarship with a free t-shirt.
4 claimed

Scholarship #2

$100 USD
Thank you! Your donation will provide one child on scholarship with one month of free classes and a free t-shirt.
5 claimed

Scholarship #3

$150 USD
Thank you! Your donation will provide one child with one month of free classes and a complete uniform
0 claimed

Lesson Package #1

$150 USD
Thank you! You will receive 1 private session for up to 2 people with Mestre Ombrinho.
1 claimed

Scholarship #4

$250 USD
Thank you! Your donation will allow one child to attain 3 months of free classes and a complete uniform.
0 claimed

Lesson Package #2

$250 USD
Thank you! You will receive 2 private sessions for up to 2 people with Mestre Ombrinho.
1 claimed

Scholarship #5

$500 USD
Thank you! Your donation will provide one child with 6 months of free classes and a complete uniform.
0 claimed

Lesson Package #2

$500 USD
Thank you! You will receive 4 private sessions with Mestre Ombrinho for up to 2 people.
0 claimed

Original Artwork

$500 USD
Thank you! You will receive an original silk screen print by Mestre Ombrinho.
1 claimed

Corporate Package #1

$500 USD
Thank you! You will receive a private Capoeira lesson at your work site or at our academy for up to 4 participants and a mention on our website.
0 claimed

Scholarship #6

$1,000 USD
Thank you! Your donation will provide two children with free uniforms and 1 year of free classes.
0 claimed

Lesson Package #4

$1,000 USD
Thank you! You will receive 4 private sessions for up to 4 people with Mestre Ombrinho.
0 claimed

Framed Original Artwork

$1,000 USD
Thank you! You will receive a framed original silk screen print by Mestre Ombrinho.
0 claimed

Corporate Package #2

$1,000 USD
Thank you! You will receive a private lesson at your work site or at our academy for up to 8 participants, plus a Capoeira performance at a corporate event or private party, plus a mention on our website, and your company's logo on our uniform.
0 claimed

Scholarship #7

$2,500 USD
Thank you for your generous donation. Your donation will provide free uniforms and 1 year scholarships for 4 children.
0 claimed

School Performance

$2,500 USD
Thank you! We will provide a Capoeira performance at the school of your choice or at a special event.
0 claimed

Corporate Package #3

$2,500 USD
Thank you! You will receive 4 private Capoeria lessons at your work site or at our academy for up to 12 participants, plus an Afro Brazil Arts Troupe performance featuring Capoeira, Maculele, and Samba at a corporate event or private party, plus mention on our website, and your company's logo on our uniform.
0 claimed

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