Oficina da Capoeira Cultural Center was founded in 1996 by Raimundo Ferreira de Sousa, Mestre Ray. Its fundamental principal is to teach the art of Capoeira. The center has aided in the development of many social projects within the community in various regions throughout Brazil as well as in other countries. Mestre Ray’s life’s work in this art form has made Oficina da Capoeira a rich reserve for the research of Capoeira and Afro-Brazilian culture.
This knowledge and accumulation of a vast history is passed on through seminars, courses, teaching methods, workshops and other activities. Oficina’s vision is to form global partnerships in the promotion, tolerance, understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures. In Brazil, the professionals of Oficina da Capoeira Cultural Center develop their work in the states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, Rondonia, Espirito Santo and Sao Paulo. Outside of Brazil, there are also branches in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Panama, Columbia and the United States of America.