ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco’s advanced teacher training program is the first of its kind in the global ABADÁ-Capoeira community. This 12-week intensive program, developed by Mestra Cigarra and co-developed by Professora Sereia, is designed to prepare established and emerging artists to start or broaden their teaching and performing work with ACSF and beyond. 

The curriculum will be presented through storytelling, lectures, hands-on training, and workshops by Mestra Cigarra and fellow legends in the field. 

Activities support the transmission of cultural knowledge—much of what only resides in the minds of aging Mestres—and will teach essential skills to build the professional capacity of next-generation artists, strengthening and preserving this folk tradition and grooming artists to carry ACSF’s legacy past Mestra Cigarra’s professional lifetime. 

The 2025 cohort will be open to levels of blue cords and higher and by invitation by Mestra Márcia Cigarra. Activities will be held at ACSF’s Capoeira Arts Center and online when possible. 

For more information or to be considered for the cohort, please reach out directly to Mestra Cigarra. The schedule and enrollment details will be available during the week of February 17, 2025. 

The artist training program is partly supported through the generosity of the National Endowment for the Arts.