United Capoeira Association - Berkeley
a project of the Capoeira Arts Foundation, Inc 501(c)(3) organization
Martial Art • Fitness • Culture
510.666.1255
1901 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702
Saturday 14 July
RODA-THON & AFTER-PARTY
UCA Berkeley, 1901 San Pablo, Berkeley, CA
Help us raise $60,000 to keep our
UCA Berkeley school open!
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For the past 40 years, Mestre Acordeon and UCA Berkeley have been pioneers for Capoeira in the US. Sponsor friends, contribute to a powerful legacy, inspire camaraderie, and support a dynamic and beautiful community.
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UCA Berkeley is facing a financial crisis with UCA’s non-profit organization’s sudden loss of a $60,000 operating grant from a foundation that supported Capoeira Arts Foundation (CAF) for 15 years. This grant helped us sustain Projeto Kirimurê; provide scholarships for youth and adults; pick up the slack when monthly revenues swung low; and supplement batizados or projects as needed. This grant represented our “safety net” to supplement revenue shortfalls.
what is the
RODA-THON
The Roda-thon is a FUN pledge based fundraiser where participants play as many capoeira games as possible. Suggested minimums are $1 per game or a flat contribution of $20, but any and all contributions will go a long way to helping us achieve our goal.
As in many fundraisers of this nature, participants will look to raise funds through their extended networks of family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, etc. All contributions are tax deductible per US tax laws.
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How Can I Contribute?
If you can’t participate in the Roda-thon, there are many ways to donate. The 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Capoeira Arts Foundation (Federal I.D. # 94-2853995) will send you a donation letter at the end of the year.
write a check to:
CAF
1901 San Pablo Ave
Berkeley, CA 94702
How can I participate?
We have information about UCA/CAF below, as well as great photos and videos that you can share with your friends, family, and work colleagues. To help you get started:
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Create Your Roda-thon Page
Sign up at https://grouprev.com/2018rodathon/signup. Write a personal note about what UCA/CAF means to you, and how capoeira, the school, the teachers, the community have influenced your life. Use some of the UCA/CAF content and make it your own. Add some photos or links to videos.
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Send a Personal Email to Your Network
Send an email to your network with using the Roda-thon template with your personal note and a link to your Roda-thon page. If you have a fundraising goal, include that so people can help you achieve it!
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Follow Up & Bring it Home
Ask if they received your note and share why it’s important to you that they sponsor you! If they are passionate about helping a particular group, speak from that angle to bring it home
SOME USEFUL INFORMATION
Capoeira
“a dance-like fight, a fight-like dance, a song, a way of life.” - Mestre Acordeon
Capoeira is a dynamic expression of African-Brazilian culture that crosses race, economic class, culture, and gender. In Brazil, Capoeira is considered a cultural treasure, a potent means of self-expression and a dynamic tool for personal growth. In 2014, capoeira was recognized by UNESCO as an "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity".
Capoeira is a game that is played in a roda (circle) with two players in the middle exchanging movements of attacks and defense in constant flow. Within this exchange of movements are included kicks, head-butts, sweeps, take-downs, throws, beautiful acrobatic maneuvers and expressive individual ways of moving.Trying to control the space and opponent, tricks, feints and strategies are employed by both players. The capoeiristas explore their strengths and weaknesses, confronting their lack of knowledge, fears, and fatigue in an enjoyable, challenging and constant process of self- improvement. This game is accompanied by the berimbau (musical bow), pandeiro (tambourine like hand drum), atabaque (drum), agogo ( traditional musical instruments and the call and response singing of traditional music
United Capoeira Association (UCA)
UCA is a Bay Area treasure and capoeira epicenter that brings together rich Afro-Brazilian history and culture, world renowned capoeira master teachers, and a network of capoeira martial arts schools across the United States, Mexico, and Brazil.
The UCA Berkeley school located at 1901 San Pablo Avenue is a diverse and inclusive community, a powerhouse of culture and learning, and a place for personal transformation. Adults, teens, youth, and pre-K students have opportunities to train, play music, and learn about the Afro-Brazilian capoeira culture. Scholarships provided to underprivileged youth and adults in need.
Every year, UCA Berkeley produces the annual Batizado where master teachers come from around the world to lead workshops and participate in the initiation/advancement belt ceremony. Approximately 250-350 students from across the U.S. convene in Berkeley for these four days of festivities at the UCA Berkeley school.
UCA is headed by Mestra Suelly, the first American woman to achieve the title of Mestra, and was founded by Mestre Acordeon, an icon and living legend who brought capoeira to the U.S. as student of the legendary Mestre Bimba. This year in October we will be celebrating Mestre Acordeon’s 60 years of capoeira and 40 years in the U.S.
Capoeira Arts Foundation (CAF)
501(c)(3): Federal I.D. # 94-2853995
CAF’s goal is to create awareness of the depth and breadth of the African-Brazilian experience,. To achieve its mission, CAF teaches Capoeira and other related traditional art forms; presents artistic, social, and cultural events that aim to strengthen the community; publishes written works; produces musical recordings and documentary films. The original organization was founded in 1981 with the name of World Capoeira Association, inc. After a period of dormancy, its name was changed to Capoeira Arts Foundation, Inc., in 2005. The CAF office is located at the UCA Berkeley school.