Folk Arts - Master Artist - Elisio Pitta

Elisio Pitta was born in Bahia, Brazil and is a master of capoeira. Over the years, capoeira has been described as a dance-like fight, and a fight-like dance. Utilizing rhythm, music, and movement, Brazilian slaves created this martial art over 400 years ago. Weaving together African, Native American and European elements, the form was developed as a means of defense and a celebration of culture—hidden behind the aspects of dance to keep the slave masters ignorant. Taught first by his father, then by the legendary master Waldemar, Elisio himself became a master at a very young age.

As a recipient of a 1996 Apprenticeship grant, Pitta taught apprentices Daniel Minter and Darrel Riley capoeira dance, movements, music, stories and traditional meanings. Daniel and Darrel gathered stories from older masters and helped to keep the memories of the last generations alive.

Four years prior to his nine-month apprenticeship, Daniel Minter first studied capoeira in Bahia, Brazil. While in Bahia Daniel also expanded his knowledge of Yoruba deities. Many of the Yoruba deity influences can be seen in Daniel’s art, creating works rich in culture.

Darrel Riley has studied capoeira for five years, mostly with Master Pitta. Darrel hopes to introduce and share capoeira with generations to come. Darrel also hopes that the apprenticeship will help him seek out more avenues for capoeira to reach the public, and teach students of his own.