When Mestre Júlio first brought Capoeira Regional to Reno's Midtown District in 2008, his weekly classes drew six students. Now, on any given Tuesday, thirty practitioners fill the floor at Reno Capoeira Academy. That growth mirrors a broader trend: Capoeira—the Afro-Brazilian art form that fuses martial arts, dance, acrobatics, and music—has found a dedicated following in this high-desert city.
For newcomers, Reno's Capoeira scene can feel surprisingly welcoming. But not every school teaches the same style or serves the same type of student. Capoeira Angola emphasizes low, cunning movements and traditional rituals. Capoeira Regional, codified by Mestre Bimba in the 1930s, blends faster kicks and athletic sequences with structured graduation levels. Contemporânea mixes elements of both. Your goals, schedule, and preferred training atmosphere all matter.
This guide covers three established Reno studios worth considering. We've prioritized schools with verified instruction, active community rodas (the circular gatherings where students play Capoeira to live music), and transparent programming for adults and youth.
How We Selected These Schools
Each studio listed below meets the following criteria:
- Verified instruction: Led by a teacher with at least a decade of documented training and recognized rank (contra-mestre, mestre, or similarly credentialed instructor).
- Active programming: Offers multiple classes per week with clear schedules published online or provided upon inquiry.
- Community presence: Hosts or participates in local rodas, workshops, or cultural events at least quarterly.
- Beginner accessibility: Provides either a trial class, introductory pricing, or explicit beginner track.
Reno Capoeira Academy
Best for: Structured progression and historical depth
Style taught: Capoeira Regional with Contemporânea influences
Reno Capoeira Academy sits in a converted warehouse just south of downtown, within walking distance of the Truckee River and the monthly Wine Walk. Mestre Júlio, a contra-mestre under Grupo Senzala with nearly thirty years of training, runs a tight ship. Classes follow a clear curriculum: beginners spend their first three months mastering the ginga (the foundational swaying step), basic escapes (esquivas), and the first five kicks before earning their cordão (cord) at an in-house batizado.
What distinguishes this academy is its insistence on context. Once a month, students gather for a two-hour workshop on Afro-Brazilian history, Portuguese language basics, or berimbau technique. "Capoeira without the history is just exercise," Mestre Júlio told us. "I want my students to understand why we clap, why we sing, why the roda has rules."
The academy runs classes six days a week. Beginner sessions meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:00 p.m.; intermediate and advanced training follows at 7:15 p.m. Saturday mornings are reserved for open rodas and kids' classes (ages 6–12). Drop-ins run $20; a monthly unlimited membership costs $130. Street parking is ample, and the RTC RIDE Line 2 stops two blocks away.
- Address: 123 E Commercial Row, Reno, NV 89501
- Contact: (775) 555-1234
- Website: www.renocapoeira.com
- Trial offer: First class free with online registration
Samba to Capoeira Studio
Best for: Families and students wanting a broader Brazilian arts immersion
Style taught: Capoeira Contemporânea
Tucked into the Wells Avenue neighborhood, Samba to Capoeira Studio occupies a bright, high-ceilinged space that smells of rosin and açaí. Founder Instrutora Carla opened the school in 2014 after a decade dancing with a samba troupe in São Paulo. Her background shows: the studio's curriculum weaves Capoeira, samba no pé, and Brazilian percussion into a single cultural package. Students can train in Capoeira three nights a week and add a Saturday samba or pandeiro class without upgrading their membership.
The family-friendly reputation is earned. Parent-child Capoeira runs Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m., with kids as young as four sharing the floor with their guardians. Teen classes (ages 13–17) meet Thursday evenings. Adult beginners have two entry points: a gentler 5:30 p.m. session on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or a faster-paced 6:45 p.m. option on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Instrutora Carla emphasizes play over perfection. "The *ro
