Learning in Motion: Capoeira with Silvio Dos Reis
At Seattle Amistad School, the arts are woven into everything we do—our classrooms, our hallways, our conversations, and our community. We believe that creativity, culture, and movement help children develop confidence, curiosity, and connection. While our academic programs challenge the mind, our arts programs nurture the whole child—heart, body, and spirit.
One beautiful expression of this intentional work is our Capoeira program, taught by Professor Silvio Dos Reis, who brings music, movement, history, and joy to all our students. Yes, all of them—even our tiniest movers who are just discovering their own little rhythms. If you’ve ever seen a group of mini Amistad students clap, sway, or wobble their way through a beat, you know it’s the kind of sweetness that can melt an entire room.
Capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art that Silvio teaches, is an art form born from creativity, resilience, and community. It blends dance-like movement, martial arts, live music, call-and-response songs, and storytelling. Every movement carries meaning. Every rhythm carries memory. And every class becomes a space where culture is not only taught but felt.
In Silvio’s classes, students learn that movement can connect them to history just as deeply as books and stories do. They learn to ginga, balance, listen, respond, and express themselves—each in their own way. And whether a student arrives with bold confidence or toddles into class with wide-eyed curiosity, Silvio meets them with a warmth and patience that makes every child feel like they belong in the circle.
Capoeira naturally supports the kind of learning we value at Amistad: cultural representation, bilingual expression, and community connection. Rooted in Afro-Brazilian history, Capoeira was created by enslaved Africans who used movement, music, and rhythm as both protection and cultural preservation. That legacy of creativity and resilience lives on in every roda, and our students step into that story each time they clap, sing, sway, or listen with intention.
Through music, rhythm, and movement, students practice language in an environment filled with laughter and authenticity—just as Capoeira has always been shared: through community, call-and-response, and the joy of learning together. They clap together, sing together, observe each other, and take turns stepping into the roda, learning collaboration and courage without even realizing it.
The joy in these classes is undeniable. Some students leap into the center with cartwheels, big kicks, and proud smiles. Others offer tiny steps, soft claps, or gentle sways—movements that are every bit as meaningful. Each child brings something uniquely themselves, and the community that forms around that creativity is what makes Capoeira so special at Amistad.
As we expand our arts programming across all grade levels, Capoeira has become a shining example of the kind of inclusive, culturally grounded, and joyful arts education we aim to offer. We are committed to developing programs that honor identity, uplift heritage, and encourage self-expression. From movement arts to visual projects to rhythm and music, we envision an arts program that grows with our students and reflects the communities we serve.
Watching our students—from the confident middle schoolers to the wobbling baby capoeiristas—step into Silvio’s circle shows us exactly what arts education can be: empowering, connective, rooted in culture, and filled with heart.
To learn more about the community and tradition behind Capoeira Angola, visit:
👉 https://www.unionculturalcenter.org/about-us
And visit our Instagram page for photos and videos of Professor Silvio teaching our 4th and 5th students this morning.