Capoeira Árvore Da Vida | Borneo

The name of our school draws inspiration from the Tree of Life, a culturally significant motif in the traditional art and folklore of the Orang Ulu (people of the interior) of Sarawak, Borneo who believe that everything is connected to the Tree of Life. The tree also symbolizes new life or growth, renewal, as well as a place of meeting and a sense of community. Like the Tree of Life, we want Capoeira Árvore Da Vida to represent the symbiotic harmony between the local and international Capoeira community, where students, teachers and friends can gather to share knowledge and experiences as well as mutually encourage, support and nurture each other. Connecting local Bornean hospitality and culture with Brazilian pride and heritage, our group aims not only to raise Borneans' awareness of Brazilian arts and culture but also provide locals with the opportunity to participate in them. We believe in sowing in order to reap a harvest, and that we must contribute to as we have received from the wider community. We facilitate learning on the art forms (performing arts), history, music, language, and heritage (folklore/myths/legends) of Sarawak and Brazil. We see Borneo and Brazil as having more in common than rainforests and cultures which are rooted in and inspired by the natural world. We believe the peoples of the two countries have a kinship and deeper bond that can be expressed and shared through the physical, emotional and spiritual art of communication that is capoeira. Capoeira Árvore Da Vida was officially launched on 14 December 2019 by Mestre Pontapé of Centro Cultural Luandaé. We are under the umbrella of Centro Cultural Luandaé and are honoured to be a part of this prestigious network. How this came to be is an example of serendipity. Our founder Malcolm Wu (Instructor Bocão) met Professor Cavalo (Capoeira Amazonas Croatia) and Professora Katjuša (Capoeira Balanço da Meia Lua Slovenia) in Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo at the end of 2017. Thanks to connections made then, Malcolm found himself at "Gathering of Tribes - Slovenia" which was the Primeiro Batizado e Troca de Corda of Capoeira Balanço da Meia Lua Slovenia in June 2019. It was there he met Mestre Pontapé, and the rest is history which is still being written.