Celebrating Capoeira: Yara Cordeiro and Ruthie Lezama in the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program
Published April 28, 2022, this episode of Folklife Fieldnotes spotlights the dynamic Brazilian martial art of capoeira through the work of master practitioner Yara Cordeiro and her apprentice, Ruthie Lezama of Reston, Virginia. As members of the 2021–2022 Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Class, the two train with Abadá-Capoeira DC, an organization devoted to spreading Brazilian arts and culture while building healthy, connected communities through the practice of capoeira.
Folklife media specialist Pat Jarrett attended a batizado a traditional capoeira ceremony recognizing student achievement, held at Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda, Maryland, on October 24, 2021. The event highlighted the artistry, discipline, and communal spirit that define capoeira, capturing the progress of students and the powerful mentorship between Cordeiro and Lezama.
The episode is hosted and produced by Chris Boros, WMRA’s Program Director and weekday on-air host from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Listen to the full story to experience the rhythm, movement, and cultural richness at the heart of this capoeira community.
