Group Senzala

Founded in Rio de Janeiro, Group Senzala has been in existence for more than 40 years. The group is probably the most famous Capoeira group in the world thanks to its many mestres and professors teaching Capoeira and the development of a teaching and training system which had a great impact on the modern capoeira. Being well known in Brazil in the seventies some of his students moved to Europe and started teaching capoeira in Paris and Amsterdam in 1984. In 1987 four mestres of Grupo Senzala, Peixinho, Toni Vargas, Garrincha and Sorriso helped organizing the First European Capoeira Meeting, in Paris, 1987. It was first introduced to Great Britain in 1971 by Nestor Capoeira, but did not flourish until 1989, with the arrival of Fernando C.C. Albuquerque (Mestre Gato) one of the founder members of the group who lived in Newcastle for a year and now is teaching full time in Scotland. His son, contramestre Pedro, established Group Senzala Scotland at Edinburgh, in 2000. At present his daughter Paula is also living and teaching in Edinburgh.