MESTRA MÁRCIA CIGARRA
Mestra Márcia “Cigarra” (Márcia Treidler), originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is ACSF’s founder and artistic director, overseeing and directing all performance and instructional programs. She is the lead instructor for the adult and teen capoeira classes.
Mestra Cigarra is one of the top seven capoeiristas out of over 40,000 international ABADÁ-Capoeira members and the first female student of Mestre Camisa to be awarded the rank “Mestra”, a title shared with some of the world’s top practitioners. Because capoeira was a male-dominated art form for over 300 years, Mestra Cigarra’s achievements have cleared the path for other women to excel. Her outstanding achievements make her a highly sought-after teacher, an inspirational leader, and an important role model, and she continues to provide a consistently safe and affirming environment for adults, youth and families in the Bay area to learn and grow in the heart of the Mission.
Mestra Cigarra began studying capoeira in 1982 under the world-renowned Mestre Camisa. In 1987, she began to conduct classes for street children, youth, and adults in Rio de Janeiro. In 1991, Mestra Cigarra moved to the US and, in 1997, was granted legal permanent residency as an “Alien with Extraordinary Abilities.” That same year, she founded the ACSF Brazilian Arts Center. A veteran student of Mestre Camisa for more than 30 years, Mestra Cigarra maintains international recognition for her accomplishments in the field and teaches regularly throughout Brazil, North America, Europe, Asia, and Israel.
RECENT AWARDS
- August 2010: Honored by the Women Capoeira Leaders Encounter in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and awarded “1er Jogos Femininos da ABADÁ-Capoeira” (1st place ABADÁ-Capoeira Female Competition).
- 2010: Mestra Cigarra appears as one of the community leaders mural at Horace Mann Middle School in the Mission, San Francisco.
- May 2010: Community Leadership Award at a statewide summit for girls in sports hosted by Team up for Youth & Athletes for Hope, for her role helping to support girls and women in sports.
- October 2009: Flyaway Productions: 10 Women Campaign Award, for her work as a “Bridge-Builder” who brings together disparate communities
- May 2008: Team Up for Youth All-Star Award, which recognizes exceptional role models
- April 2008: Granted American citizenship after 15 years as a Brazilian immigrant
- March 2008: International leadership of ABADA-Capoeira names her Regional Leader for North America
- December 2007: Certificate of Honor from Gavin Newsom and the City and County of San Francisco for her dedicated service to the Latino community
- October 2007: Documentary CIGARRA CAPOEIRISTA completed and screened at SF and Boston Film Festivals
- September 2007: KQED Latino Community Hero Award in recognition of her long-standing impact on Bay Area communities
