Barnsley Classes

On Wednesday 9th September 2026, our popular Capoeira Angola classes will be extending to Barnsley!

Sessions will be held Wednesdays 7pm - 9pm at the Holy Rood Church Hall, George Street, S70 1AX and Sundays 10am - 11am at the Fairy Garden, Locke Park, S70 1YG.

To celebrate, you can access all the Wednesday classes in September for just £20 (classes usually priced at £8 each).

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that was developed in North Eastern Brazil by enslaved Africans as a way of preserving and celebrating the cultures of the people taken from the African continent. Whilst there are many stories surrounding the origin of Capoeira, it is generally agreed that whilst the exact details may forever remain unknown, it was developed in part as a fight hidden within dance rituals as a means to disguise it from the Portuguese colonial authorities.

When two people come together to play Capoeira Angola, it is referred to as a ‘game’ due to the playful nature of the interaction. Whilst there is a ‘fight’ element to the game, the intention is not to harm the person you are playing with, instead focussing on the the connection, the conversation and the energetic interaction between each other. The game can be likened to a conversation in which both parties will often come away with more knowledge about the other and about the art itself.

During these classes, those unfamiliar with the art will be given a practical and useable introduction to the Afro-Brazilian art form of Capoeira Angola. Alongside the movement, you will also learn how to play the musical instruments as the music and energetic element of Capoeira Angola is just as important as the physical skill. These classes are a great opportunity to connect with your body, energies and with other capoeira players in the community all while improving your fitness, co-ordination, balance, bodily awareness, strength, flexibility, critical thinking and mental health. We at Capoeira Areia do Mar are passionate about the benefits of Capoeira Angola and believe that it can positively impact upon your life as much as it has ours.

We strive to ensure that we provide a safe and welcoming space for both new and experienced Capoeira players; a space without pressure where community support is forefronted. If you have any special requirements that you would like to discuss, please contact us.

What you will learn.

Music

The traditional music of Capoeira Angola is sung in Portuguese and through the songs, the oral history of the art, its practitioners and other important elements of Afro-Brazilian history are shared.

You will learn the fundamental rhythms of each of the instruments, basic Portuguese in context and how to play as part of the band (batería).

Movement

The fundamental movements of Capoeira Angola include a range of kicks and escapes which utilise strength, balance, mobility, flexibility and acrobatics.

Each week builds upon the previous with the movement being used both in the context of sequencing and in improvisation. By the end of the eight weeks, you will be able to start, play and end a game confidently.

Critical Thinking

A key part of playing Capoeira Angola is criticality in movement. The game is often viewed as a conversation and it is through the question and answer nature of Capoeira that you will learn how to interact with each other.

Pricing

***September introduction offer £20***

First Class £5

Drop-in Wednesday £8

Monthly Direct Debit Wednesday only £30

Drop-in Sunday £5

Monthly Direct Debit Wednesday and Sunday £40