A new Afro-Brazilian Dance Studio, part of Capoeira Angola Center of Mestre Joao Grande Dance School — based in New York, is opening up in Downtown Urbana and will host their ribbon cutting ceremony this Friday, October 23rd. The studio owner, Denis Chiaramonte, had been renting a space to teach Capoeira until recently, when a spot went for sale above Mirabelle Bakery on Main Street and Chiaramonte decided to snag it. Capoeira is a form of Brazilian martial arts that combines dance, traditional music, and acrobatics. Included in each course is the history and philosphy of Capoeira, as well as a Portuguese linguistics lesson.
There will be refereshments, a Capoeira performance, and João Oliveira dos Santos (lead instructor) will be in attendence at the ribbon cutting ceremony this Friday. This event will kickoff the 12th annual Capoeira conference going on this weekend at U of I.The general public are welcome to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony this Friday at the Capoeira Angola Studio at 122 W Main St., Urbana, at 5 p.m. sharp.