Contramestra Katjuša Kovačič

dancer, teacher, capoeirista, theatre artist, performer, visual artist, musician

Katjuša fell in love with capoeira in 2006 and is highly dedicated to it until today. First enchanted by her acrobatic and fluid moves, she continued exploring the body conversation, theatrical expressions and its martial side.
That led her to use it actively in her dance and theatre performances and teachings of Fluid balance – creative acrobatics.
She also produced her illustrated book Arte da Capoeira 2013. After 2018 she dived deeper into musicality, singing, improvising and creating new songs in Portuguese.
Since 2018 she works closely with contramestre Cavalo. In 2022 they produced and recorded audio album with author songs Sucuri beats: Guerreiros. It is based on Capoeira music with addition of unconventional melodies and instruments with the help of fellow musicians. They have produced several above-mentioned performances as well as documentaries, art videos and graphic designs related to Capoeira.

Since 2018 they organise a monthly roda aberta in Ljubljana, where different capoeiristas from vicinity and share their love for Capoeira.

First 11 years of her Capoeira journey she studied with mestre Alegria; former student of gran mestre Nô (Capoeira Angola Palmares). Next 5 was with mestre Pontapé; student of gran mestre Pantera (ACDP). She is currently travelling around the world and obtaining knowledge from various known and less known mestres and mestras.
Katjuša received her professor belt (cordel de professora) as first person from Slovenia in 2014. In 2018 she formed the group Capoeira Balanço da Meia Lua in Ljubljana which she mentors together with contramestre Cavalo; they are also active in Borneo/Sarawak with a group Arvore da Vida lead by estagiario Bocao; the 3 of them organize a yearly Capoeira festival: Gathering of tribes in Slovenia and Borneo.

Katjuša travelled Brazil and other countries where she got acquainted/learned/worked with several masters (mestres & mestras): Salvador (CDO), Umoi & Tucas (União na Capoeira), Bamba (Associação de Bimba), Joao Paulo (Nação), Celso (Girassol), Pitbull (Jacobina Arte), Magrelo & China (Raça), Piolha & Omar (União), gran mestre Nô (Angola Palmares), Versátil (Capoeira Batuque – USA), Rosita & Cigano (LGDM México). In Ljubljana she learns a lot about Capoeira Regional and the tradition of Candomble and how is it connected to Capoeira with her friend contramestre Tirindin.

She applies expressions of Capoeira in all of her artistic projects. Since the age of 5 she was enrolled in 8 year contemporary dance school, later on with improvisation, physical and street theatre. The street is where she started to produce her own shows by the age of 15. In her 20’s she moved to Beijing for a year to be part of BIAS Circus acrobatic school. She runs Fluid balance – creative acrobatics together with Nikola. She continues till this day the journey of exploration and connection of different disciplines, cultures, languages and expressions; producing performances, gatherings, retreats, workshops and other artistic materials/content. She received the title of contramestra in 2025.