The history of the Cultural Association Axé Capoeira

Salvador de Bahia

The core of the group was born in 1993 in Salvador de Bahia upon the return of Mestre Boca Nua from Spain where he participated to the Expo 92 in Seville.

in Florence since 1995

In 1995 Boca Nua created the Axé group in Florence and in 1997 organized the first International Festival of Capoeira. After this Festival the Association has invited every year mestres and students from various countries to participate to the Stages and Batizados.
The Association has joined various sporting events in collaboration to the Prefecture of Florence. In 2001 the Batizado was realized in the historical centre of the city, more precisely in the Palagio Parte Guelfa, an antique and enchanting palace situated in the heart of Florence, also thanks to the participation of the Local Councillor assigned to Culture and Sports, Dott. Eugenio Giani.
Due to the high institutional recognition that Capoeira receives today in the city of Florence, it has been possible for the Association to be involved in the development of this art also at a social level by having the possibility to work with the Istituto Penale Minorile (Juvenile Delinquent Institute) and various centres for minors located in the city of Florence.
Furthermore the art of Capoeira was also presented at the theatre during the event Hip Hop Parade ( a project by Vittoria Ottolenghi) in the Teatro Manzoni in Pistoia during the year 2002, and also at the event organized by Fabbrica Europa ( Stazione Leopolda, Firenze) in 2001 as part of the show "Quilombos dos Palmares".
In the spring of 2006, the group participated to the event Danza in Fiera at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, displaying a spectacular show to all the numerous members of the audience.
In May 2006 the Cultural Association Axé Capoeira celebrated the tenth anniversary of the founding of the group in the city of Florence.

Primary Schools

Currently the Association is occupied in promoting the art of Capoeira across the primary schools of the city. This project started at the school Rossini and is quickly spreading towards the various schools present in the Florentine territory.