Hey! My Capoeira nickname is Calado, and my real name is Chris Rodriguez,. I am obsessed with Capoeira.

I started training since 2007, consisting of music, movement, and learning about the history of the art. I joined Cordao de ouro in 2012 and started including many of the staple CDO movements to my Capoeira repertoire. Over the years I’ve immersed myself in my training by reading books, listening to podcasts, traveling to Brazil, taking workshops, and researching everything I could about the human body.

After years of training, I decided it was time to give back and did so with my own blog to share my research, ideas, and training modalities.

I created Dende Arts as an LLC to host my Capoeira Cordao de Ouro classes. Dende refers to Dende Oil and is a major part of the diet of people in Salvador, Bahia. The birthplace of Capoeira as we know it today. Dende also means good vibes and moving with grace and precision. For someone to say you have Dende is a great compliment.

Our Mestres is Mestre Cebolinha, from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. In 2012, Mestre Cebolinha began teaching Capoeira classes in Newark, New Jersey and one year later, in 2013, the Brazilian Cultural Center of Newark was created. Mestre Cebolinha is the head instructor and Director of the Brazilian Cultural Center of Newark. Ronaldo has 20+ years experience practicing Capoeira.