Mestre Cigano

Robson A.V. Ribeiro (03/27/62) is a native Brazilian, born in the Botafogo district of Rio de Janeiro. He was first introduced to Capoeira in 1972 in Bahia at a roda overseen by his first Mestre, Pedrinho Fio do Ouro. Cigano went on to study with several other Mestres, graduating to Mestre at the age of 21 from Mestre Sardi of Rio. While in Rio de Janeiro,he worked with and taught the omnipresent street children from the Favelas (slums) of the city. He worked in conjunction with Centro Arquediocese of Rio de Janeiro, forming courses of social integration, using Capoeira masters. He founded Grupo Liberdade de Capoeira in 1987 and emigrated to the USA the following year.

In 1996, Mestre Cigano opened the New Jersey Capoeira Arts Center, in the East Ward of Newark, NJ. He has dedicated himself to teaching students of all ages and backgrounds, not only the fundamentals of capoeira, but his philosophy of respect and integrity. Although he returned to Brazil in late 2008 to Porto Seguro, his influence is evident to the enormous success of capoeira in New Jersey.

Our Story

Today, Grupo Liberdade has aspiring students at various levels of proficiency in this complex art. The Group performs for private and public organizations, showing the joyous nature of the Brazilian spirit. The group comprises of a diverse number of individuals who share a common heart. They are musically and physically competent, with vitality and genuine desire to learn.