Brazilian art and culture are rooted in the history and experience of generations of enslaved African people who were brought to the region from the early 16th century. Since that time, African customs, music, dance, religions, and philosophies have shaped every aspect of Brazilian life, even if such influences have often gone unacknowledged or been suppressed. From the joyous beats of samba to the awesome acrobatics of capoeira, from the vibrant pageantry of Carnaval to the sophisticated grooves of bossa nova, from the driving rhythms of the atabaque to the improvisations of the berimbau, a uniquely African perspective provides the literal and metaphorical soundtrack to life in Brazil today.

The Foundation for Afro-Brazilian Culture was established to promote the richness of Brazilian art and culture in New York City – especially the contributions made to Brazilian dance and music through capoeira and maculelê – and to make them accessible and available to people of all ages, abilities, and economic means through classes, workshops, and special events.