Manaus - Amazonas
With the arrival of Joãozinho da Figueira in Amazonas, a new phase in the work of Capoeira MarAzul began.
On the 5th January 1985, a partnership was formed between MarAzul and the Central Students Directorate of the Amazonas Federal University, beginning a series of programmes and events with various artistic sectors of Manaus.
This partnership enabled MarAzul to establish itself as a cultural group, recognised by Amazonian society and in particular the artistic classes, with whom MarAzul produced various projects and programmes.
The result of this integration was the opening of MarAzul's own space in September 1998, called the 'MarAzul' Cultural Space. It was one of the most popular meeting places for local artists, from Amazonas, Brazil and other parts of the world. People went to watch the Capoeira rodas on Friday evenings and enjoy an acarajé (a traditional Bahian dish made from fried mashed black-eyed beans) and other Bahian foods, accompanied by fresh coconuts to drink and cold beers. The stage was open, and everyone had the freedom to show their abilities: music, dance, theatre, poetry, art exhibitions, and in the early morning samba de roda and afro-brazilian percussion.
Because the space was entirely cultural and not commercial, unfortunately it had to close its doors in early 1993, for lack of sustainable financing. The Space was created independently and was maintained with the support of the artistic classes, friends of MarAzul and with the group's own resources. After the Cultural Space closed, the group transferred to the Arts Centre of the Amazonas Federal University, where it stayed for eight years.
With more than twenty years' work in Manaus, MarAzul has left its mark on the artistic scene of the city, carrying out many cultural, social and educational projects, opening up debates and discussion about Capoeira and other varied forms of expression of our culture.
Today the work of the group in Manaus continues in the Capoeira MarAzul Meeting and Recreation Room, where people from various places who are interested in the practice, study and research of Capoeira and other arts in general, come to meet and train. The Group has a programme that ranges from rodas every Sunday to shows and presentations in cultural events in Amazonas state.
