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MESTRA MÁRCIA CIGARRA

Mestra Márcia “Cigarra” (Márcia Treidler), is a 39-year Capoeira veteran and the founder and artistic director of ACSF. Márcia began Capoeira in 1982 under the renowned Mestre Camisa, a student of legendary Mestre Bimba.

Throughout the 1980s there were only a handful of women training. Márcia was determined to change the trajectory for women in the art. With persistent hard work she earned respect and a place amongst the leading practitioners. In 1987, she began teaching street children, and by 1990, had attained the highest level reached by any woman in ABADÁ-Capoeira, a status she maintains today.

In 1991, at age 25, Márcia left Brazil for the U.S. and founded ACSF to preserve and expand Capoeira and to use Capoeira as a catalyst for positive change.

As an undocumented gay immigrant artist, Márcia started modestly with two weekly classes for a handful of students. Awareness of her talent grew and gradually she added classes, performances, and events.

In 1997, her artistic contribution to the U.S. was recognized when she was the first female artist to receive a National Interest Waiver as an “Alien with Extraordinary Abilities,” granting her permanent residence. That same year, with Executive Director Jennifer Walsh, she established ACSF’s Center, the area’s first venue dedicated to Brazilian art and culture.

In 2013, she was the first woman from the ABADÁ legacy to receive the title “Mestra,” making her one of the top 8 Capoeiristas of some 60,000 international members.

As a leader of the global ABADÁ organization, Márcia performs and teaches all over Brazil, North America, and Europe, and is one of seven judges for the prestigious International and National ABADÁ-Capoeira “Jogos”-World Games.

She’s valued as an innovative choreographer; a sought-after teacher; a teacher and mentor for ACSF and ABADÁ-North American artists; a role model for Brazilian, immigrant, women and girls, and LGBTQIA+ populations; and a bridge-builder in our community.

Márcia’s leads women and men to unprecedented levels of success in the art, and her work promotes the increasing presence and impact of women in the art.

She continues her commitment to protect the integrity of Capoeira by illuminating historic significance while advancing cultural knowledge; mentoring next-generation artists; and amplifying gender equity in Capoeira internationally.

RECENT AWARDS and MILESTONES

  • 2016: Mestra Márcia Cigarra receives the prestigious KPIX Jefferson Award for bringing Capoeira to thousands.
  • 2014: ABC 7 Profile of Excellence Award – Mestra Márcia Cigarra receives the prestigious ABC 7 Profile of Excellence Award​ ​for ​significantly contributing to the cultural diversity of the Bay Area.
  • August 2013: Title of Mestra given by Mestre Camisa in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • August 2010: Honored by the Women Capoeira Leaders Encounter in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and awarded “1er Jogos Femininos da ABADÁ-Capoeira” (1st place ABADÁ-Capoeira Female Competition)
  • 2010: Mestra Cigarra was added as one of the community leaders pictured in a mural at Horace Mann Middle School in San Francisco’s Mission District
  • 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
  • March 2008: Named as Regional Leader for North America by the international leadership of ABADÁ-Capoeira
  • 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: The documentary film Cigarra Capoeirista was completed and screened at film festivals in San Francisco and Boston
  • September 2007: KQED Latino Community Hero Award in recognition of her long-standing impact on Bay Area communities

Get in shape, with Mestra Márcia Cigarra