INSTRUCTORS

Mestranda Márcia Cigarra (Márcia Treidler) oversees and directs all ACSF programs, and teaches the adult and teen capoeira classes. Some teen classes are also led by Graduada Cravo (Diane Martinez). Graduado Corrente (Antonio Contreres) leads the Kids' Capoeira classes for youth aged 5-12 . He also is the director for the innovative BodyBrasil Bootcamp program. Private classes are led by one of our available qualifed artists.

ACSF’s and Mestranda Cigarra's philosophy is to provide all students with the tools to become professional instructors and performers. ACSF is a teaching school, where learning to teach, perform, and lead others is part of every student's development. At times, classes may be taught or assisted by an apprenticing student instructors as part of their training.

Graduado Corrente (Antonio Contreras)
Lead Youth Instructor

Antonio was born and raised in Mexico City. There, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Art & Literature from the University Hispano America and his Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design from the Institute of Arts and Fashion. While in fashion school, Antonio discovered that he loved sketching his designs as much as actually creating them, and his fashion sketches soon developed into elaborate watercolor pieces focused on his love of literature, pop culture, and fashion. After college he moved to the Bay Area and focused his creative efforts on painting — creating large, colorful and energetic watercolors interwoven with an eclectic mix of themes including Catholicism, literature, music, high fashion, pop culture, mythology and, of course, a heavy dose of Mexican Diva Maria Felix.

An accomplished artist and athlete, Antonio has been an integral part of the ACSF community since he began training with Mestranda Cigarra in 2001. He is now a graduate student of capoeira, a lead performer of the ACSF Performance Troupe, the lead instructor of the innovative BodyBrasil Fitness Program at ACSF, and since 2007, a member of the Board. Since 2008, Antonio has been the leading instructor for ACSF’s arts education programs both on-site and off-site, and since 2009, works FULL-time with ACSF. He has done an outstanding job teaching the ACSF RAY Project, as well as off-site at schools such as the Fairmont, Mariloma, and Up On Top elementary schools. He brings his background and charisma to his work with youth, stricking a balanance between hard work, discipline, and the freedom to be your self without judgment. He has produced several performance events with his students such as last year’s Summer Camp Production of capoeira and maculelê choreographed by Antonio and his youth students and presented to the Michael Jackson song “Thriller”. Notably, Antonio’s work teaching capoeira school-wide at Fairmount Elementary for the past two years, serving as the school’s physical education program, was recently acknowledged by the school by declaring May 21st “Capoeira Day”!

Graduada Cravo (Diane Martinez)
Teen Program Instructor

Diane started training at age 16 in the ACSF Free Teen program at the original ACSF studio on 20th and Mission Street. She trained, as one of the ONLY female teens in the class, while she completed high school. Following school, she joined the military and served 6 years in the US Marine Corps reserve with the rank of Sergeant. After an inspiring trip visiting ACNY for Instructor Furacão’s batizado where she and met several fellow capoeristas and Mestre Joao Grande she was inspired to work to build a stronger youth community at ACSF. She then got more involved with ACSF, assisting with the teen’s class, and working as ACSF’s studio receptionist.

In 2007, she traveled to Salvador Bahia, Brazil for the ABADÁ International Jogos Mundiais. While in Brazil she had the unique opportunity to train with Mestre Camisa and other Mestrandos and Instrutores and felt privileged to be next to so many talented and well-known capoeiristas from around the world. This experience made Diane thirst for more for capoeira! Diane has many responsibilities including raising her 1yr old daughter as a single parent, but says she now has an even stronger desire to achieve her goals in capoeira and within the ACSF community. She says “I want to instill pride and motivation in our youth by leading challenging classes, developing teamwork, and rewarding hard work with a fun atmosphere. I am dedicated to this. I have a true desire to see growth.” She has continued her commitment to training and has remained such a strong contributor to our community. She is an invaluable role model for the younger population of students. In addition to working as an instructor for the ACSF Free Teen program, Diane was hired in April 2010, as ACSF’s Programs Coordinator, working with the ACSF team of administrators and responsible to manage all on-site programs at the Capoeira Arts Center.

Papagaio (Elias D. Gonzalez)
Kids & Teen Program Assistant Instructor

Elias started training capoeira three years ago as a teen participant. He came from Guatemala after serving in the military. He’s currently assisting Graduado Corrente teaching kids’ in the RAY Project, as well as co-teaches several off-site residencies for kids and teens. He has become a lead performer with the ACSF Performance Troupe, consistently participating in ACSF’s numerous performances. He has taken workshops with Mestrandos Duande, Peixe Cru, Pernilongo, and was part of ACSF’s acclaimed Spirit Of Brazil 2009 performance concert series.

Elias has a love and talent to compose capoeira songs and has composed music for our events such as “Boa Alimentação” for our Adult Batizado in 2009 and “Nosso Futuro” for our Kid’s Batizado 2010. He has composed benguela songs on his own like: “Sangue Guerreira”, “Eu vim de longe”, and more. He is a dependable, consistent, loyal, and talented student, performer, and teacher. He is a valued and important contributor to our community and ACSF team. His passion for capoeira has made him grow immensely and he’s now sharing knowledge with his peers and has taken an active role with more responsibility. Elias’ has the intention to see ABADÁ-Capoeira SF continue to grow.

“I train capoeira because I want to be a good capoeirista, player, singer and composer and most important, to be a better person and help others and eventually be a teacher following the ABADÁ philosophy and fundamentals that I learn everyday from Mestranda Cigarra.” - Elias

Ciranda (Lisa Silva Willoughby)
Kids Program Assistant Instructor

Lisa was born and raised in Goiânia, Brazil.  In 1998, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Public Relations from Universidade Estadual Paulista (São Paulo State University), one of Brazil's most prestigious universities.  She has a post-graduation, in Integrated Marketing Communication from U.C. Berkley Extension. For ten years after college, Ciranda worked in the marketing field for companies in both the United States and Brazil. While living in Brazil, Capoeira was something that always intrigued her, but it was not until moving to the US that she sought out classes. She found ACSF and has been training under Mestranda Márcia "Cigarra" Treidler at ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco (ACSF) since 2007. Capoeira has become a primary passion in her life. After deeply investing herself in training she has grown to also become an apprenticing instructor with ACSF, teaching and co-teaching Capoeira to children in Oakland, San Francisco and Marin County schools since 2009. Most recently she has taken on the added responsibility at ACSF and joined the administrative team as the Bookings Coordinator, managing all off-site program contracts. Lisa resides in Marin County with her husband and three-year old son.