North Star Capoeira was founded in Bloomington, Indiana by Contra-Mestre Iuri Hart Santos in 1998. Since then the group has expanded to Indianapolis and Evansville, IN and Georgetown, TX. The group strives to preserve the art of Capoiera angola primarily by teaching classes to people of all ages. Students learn movements, music and traditions of Capoeira Angola. We also offer performances and workshops in schools and at cultural events to enrich our community by spreading awareness of this art and it's unique history. Feel free to contact us about performances or workshops for your organization.
Approximately every other year we travel as a group to Salvador da Bahia, Brazil to immerse ourselves in the culture of Capoeira and create opportunities for cross-cultural exchange.
Contra-Mestre Iuri Santos Contra-Mestre Iuri was born in Salvador da Bahia and began learning Capoeira Angola with Grupo Filhos de Angola as a teenager. Contra-Mestre Iuri studied Capoeira Angola for eight years before coming to the US. During this time he studied under the guidance of several elders and respected Mestres in the art. He went on to teach Capoeira Angola to children and adults in Grupo Acupe, Government Orphanages, and in the largest and most well known Capoeira Angola organization in Brazil, The Brazilian Association Of Capoeira Angola.
In 1998 Mestre Marrom awarded Iuri Santos the title of Contra-Mestre. Soon after Iuri started his work teaching in the United States in Bloomington, IN. In 2000 he started another branch of the group in Indianapolis. In 2003 the Iuri Santos and the group were proud to host a large event with over a 130 participants from several states in the US. Our guest of honor was Mestre João Pequeno, the oldest living Mestre today, and one of Pastinha’s most famous students.
In 2005 Contra-Mestre Iuri and his students unfortunately parted ways from, Grupo Acupe. Iuri Santos and his students chose North Star Capoeira Angola / Grupo Capoeira Angola Estrela do Norte as our new name.
Teachers
Classes in Bloomington and Indianapolis are primarily taught by Contra-Mestre Iuri Santos. Indianapolis classes are often led by Bagaçu, a senior student who has been with the group since it began 8 years ago. Classes in Evansville Indiana are taught by Filipe Sobral. And Lalena Parkhurst teaches in Georgetown Texas. Lalena Parkhurst has been studying with Contra-Mestre Iuri for 8 years and has visited Salvador da Bahia several times to learn Capoeira Angola. Filipe Sobral has been studying with Iuri Santos for over 3 years.
Board of Directors
President Iuri Hart Santos
Vice-President Linda Lewis
Treasurer Paul Swanson
Secretary Chris Dintamon
Members at large
Lilian Casillas
Douglas Molin, MD
Claudio Buckwald
Mission Statement
The mission of “Grupo de Capoeira Angola Estrela do Norte” (North Star Capoeira) is to promote and preserve the art of Capoeira Angola in its traditional form, to focus on children in our educational activities and to share the history and culture of Brazil with our community, through presentations, workshops and classes.
Our objectives include forming a strong group or community of capoeiristas who are skilled in the art of Capoeira Angola, including the ability to sing, play the instruments, execute the movements, and have knowledge of the roots, rituals and traditions of Capoeira Angola.
We encourage our members to promote the ideals of human equality, cultural exchange, and global peace and justice through involvement in projects worldwide.
We will support and interact with communities and organizations in Brazil with the intention of demonstrating our gratitude and respect of the people who created, preserved and handed down the traditional art of Capoeira Angola.
We will continue to learn and develop our capoeira through these interactions and we will serve as a cultural force which inspires the appreciation of diversity.
