About Dendê Arts
The mission
The mission of Dendê Arts is to grow the Capoeira community and increase the amount of high quality information available to students. Capoeira is a movement art that brings joy through physical fitness, mental strength, community building, and cultural appreciation.
Meet Calado: Your Guide to Capoeira
Dendê Arts was founded in New Jersey by Chris "Calado" Rodriguez. Since 2007, Calado has dedicated himself to the art of Capoeira, while balancing work as a website developer, engineer, and at times a Capoeira teacher.
Calado's training started in High School when his cousin invited him to his first class. In 2012 Calado started training with Mestre Cebolinha former of Cordão de Ouro. In 2008, it was many people's dream to train with CDO because of the creative and dynamic style it had. When M. Cebolinha set up shop in Newark, Calado was the first one through the door.
He also learned from great teachers like Professor Rob Grey, Dr. Andrea Spina, and Mestre Cueca. Calado is a lifetime learner, which means reading voraciously about Capoeira, ecological dynamics, motor learning, business, and taking courses to further develop his skills whenever the opportunity presents itself.
In 2016, Calado started teaching in California at the Google Complex in Mountain View, California. A year later, he moved back to the East Coast and started teaching in New York City. After moving to New Jersey again, he began teaching classes in the downtown of Newark, New Jersey.
Calado's teaching methodology is a combination of traditional capoeira methods and modern ecological dynamics. the traditions are preserved from incredible talents like Mestre de Cueca Mestre João Grande, Mestre Cebolinha, Mestre Cabelo, Mestre Caivota, and many more.
Calado knows what it's like to juggle work, life and passion. That's why he built Dente Arts. It's a way to integrate the joy of learning and doing capoeira into your daily routine.
Dendê Arts includes:
- Online Resources: A wealth of tutorials, tips, and insights available through his blog, YouTube channel, and social media platforms.
- In-Person Classes: Hands-on training sessions designed to help students master the art of Capoeira in a supportive environment.
- Capoeira Gear: High-quality, handcrafted equipment to enhance your practice and performance.
- Community Building: A commitment to fostering connections among Capoeira enthusiasts, creating a global network of like-minded individuals.
Calado's vision is to share the joy of capoeira, moving one's body, learning to control it, and benefiting from a global community that enjoys convening to do something they all love together.