Instrutora Bombom (Marcelle Guimarães Raibolt) was born in Ubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil. She started training capoeira when she was 14 and became enamored with the art. But as an adolescent female, she encountered discrimination from society for her involvement in capoeira. “As a Black woman,” she shares, “I was harassed and got evil looks from society. I was called things like ‘Maria Homem’ and ‘Manchinha.’ Despite this, I persisted.”
After training for a few years, she decided to pursue capoeira professionally. She moved to Barra Mansa in Rio de Janeiro, where there would be more opportunities, and began practicing with Mestrando Pretinho. “I had several obstacles in the city,” she says of her start. “I came to the interior of Rio with 10 reals in my pocket and a backpack, plus a heart full of dreams.”
Today, she teaches physical education and capoeira with local programs in Rio. Over the past 10 years, she’s competed and placed an astounding 26 Capoeira events, including the ABADÁ-Capoeira Jogos Mundiais (World Games.)
CIGARRA & Guerreiras Nessa Arte will be presented by ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco’s Performance Company and special guest artists from May 3-5 at San Francisco’s Z SPACE.