See Axé in Action

Capoeira is a martial art, a dance, live music, and a community all rolled into one. Explore what a typical week (and the occasional show) actually looks like at Axé Capoeira Chicago.

01 — The Discipline

Martial Arts

Kicks, takedowns, and acrobatics from the roda — Capoeira as a fight, a game, and a workout all at once.

Capoeira students sparring in a roda at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira practitioners exchanging kicks during a martial arts roda in Chicago
Students demonstrating capoeira martial arts technique at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira roda with berimbau players and sparring students at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Axé Capoeira Chicago students training in traditional capoeira martial arts
Capoeira sparring match inside the roda circle at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira students sparring in a roda at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira practitioners exchanging kicks during a martial arts roda in Chicago
Students demonstrating capoeira martial arts technique at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira roda with berimbau players and sparring students at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Axé Capoeira Chicago students training in traditional capoeira martial arts
Capoeira sparring match inside the roda circle at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira students sparring in a roda at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira practitioners exchanging kicks during a martial arts roda in Chicago
Students demonstrating capoeira martial arts technique at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira roda with berimbau players and sparring students at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Axé Capoeira Chicago students training in traditional capoeira martial arts
Capoeira sparring match inside the roda circle at Axé Capoeira Chicago
02 — The Culture

Dance & Folklore

Samba, Maculelê, Coco de Roda, and Orixás — the Afro-Brazilian traditions woven into everything we teach.

Dancers in traditional Brazilian folkloric costume performing at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Escola de Samba Chicago performers in elaborate folkloric costumes
Brazilian folk dance performance featuring traditional maracatu regalia
Colorful Brazilian folkloric dance costumes on stage at an Axé Capoeira Chicago event
Traditional Afro-Brazilian folk dancers performing at an Axé Capoeira Chicago show
Ornate maracatu costume worn by a dancer at an Axé Capoeira Chicago performance
Dancers in traditional Brazilian folkloric costume performing at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Escola de Samba Chicago performers in elaborate folkloric costumes
Brazilian folk dance performance featuring traditional maracatu regalia
Colorful Brazilian folkloric dance costumes on stage at an Axé Capoeira Chicago event
Traditional Afro-Brazilian folk dancers performing at an Axé Capoeira Chicago show
Ornate maracatu costume worn by a dancer at an Axé Capoeira Chicago performance
Dancers in traditional Brazilian folkloric costume performing at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Escola de Samba Chicago performers in elaborate folkloric costumes
Brazilian folk dance performance featuring traditional maracatu regalia
Colorful Brazilian folkloric dance costumes on stage at an Axé Capoeira Chicago event
Traditional Afro-Brazilian folk dancers performing at an Axé Capoeira Chicago show
Ornate maracatu costume worn by a dancer at an Axé Capoeira Chicago performance
Dancers in traditional Brazilian folkloric costume performing at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Escola de Samba Chicago performers in elaborate folkloric costumes
03 — The Rhythm

Music

The berimbau, atabaque, and pandeiro set the beat — live music drives every roda and every show.

Musician playing traditional Brazilian percussion at an Axé Capoeira Chicago event
Berimbau and pandeiro players providing live music at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira musician playing the berimbau during a roda at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Live Brazilian percussion music at an Axé Capoeira Chicago performance
Instructor playing traditional capoeira instruments at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Musicians accompanying a capoeira roda with traditional instruments
Musician playing traditional Brazilian percussion at an Axé Capoeira Chicago event
Berimbau and pandeiro players providing live music at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira musician playing the berimbau during a roda at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Live Brazilian percussion music at an Axé Capoeira Chicago performance
Instructor playing traditional capoeira instruments at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Musicians accompanying a capoeira roda with traditional instruments
Musician playing traditional Brazilian percussion at an Axé Capoeira Chicago event
Berimbau and pandeiro players providing live music at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira musician playing the berimbau during a roda at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Live Brazilian percussion music at an Axé Capoeira Chicago performance
Instructor playing traditional capoeira instruments at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Musicians accompanying a capoeira roda with traditional instruments
04 — The Stage

Performance

From street festivals to our own Essence of Brazil show — our team takes what happens in the academy out into the spotlight.

Escola de Samba Chicago performers on stage in costume at an Axé Capoeira Chicago event
Live stage performance featuring Brazilian music and dance at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Costumed performer on stage during an Axé Capoeira Chicago cultural showcase
Axé Capoeira Chicago performance blending music, dance, and costume
Brazilian cultural performance on stage at an Axé Capoeira Chicago event
Performer in elaborate costume on stage at an Axé Capoeira Chicago show
Escola de Samba Chicago performers on stage in costume at an Axé Capoeira Chicago event
Live stage performance featuring Brazilian music and dance at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Costumed performer on stage during an Axé Capoeira Chicago cultural showcase
Axé Capoeira Chicago performance blending music, dance, and costume
Brazilian cultural performance on stage at an Axé Capoeira Chicago event
Performer in elaborate costume on stage at an Axé Capoeira Chicago show
Escola de Samba Chicago performers on stage in costume at an Axé Capoeira Chicago event
Live stage performance featuring Brazilian music and dance at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Costumed performer on stage during an Axé Capoeira Chicago cultural showcase
Axé Capoeira Chicago performance blending music, dance, and costume
Brazilian cultural performance on stage at an Axé Capoeira Chicago event
Performer in elaborate costume on stage at an Axé Capoeira Chicago show
05 — The Family

Community

Graduations, batizados, and everyday classes — the people who make Axé feel like home.

Students training together in a Kids Capoeira class at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Axé Capoeira Chicago students and families at a community class
Kids practicing capoeira moves during class at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira community gathering at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Students of all ages training together at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Axé Capoeira Chicago community members practicing capoeira as a group
Students training together in a Kids Capoeira class at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Axé Capoeira Chicago students and families at a community class
Kids practicing capoeira moves during class at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira community gathering at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Students of all ages training together at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Axé Capoeira Chicago community members practicing capoeira as a group
Students training together in a Kids Capoeira class at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Axé Capoeira Chicago students and families at a community class
Kids practicing capoeira moves during class at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira community gathering at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Students of all ages training together at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Axé Capoeira Chicago community members practicing capoeira as a group
Students training together in a Kids Capoeira class at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Axé Capoeira Chicago students and families at a community class
Kids practicing capoeira moves during class at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Capoeira community gathering at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Students of all ages training together at Axé Capoeira Chicago
Axé Capoeira Chicago community members practicing capoeira as a group

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