Director, Choreographer, Dancer, and Founder
Adriana's purpose is to accessibly share her passion for cultivating the mind-body connection through movement practices such as: Yoga, Capoeira and Samba no Pé. Adriana is currently the first year graduate student at UNC Greensboro for her Masters in Fine Arts in Dance.
Musical and Capoeira Director & Founder
Juan Pablo initiated his athletic career as a child in Venezuela playing competitive basketball. After graduating high school, Juan Pablo became involved in training martial arts such as Capoeira, (an Afro-Brazilian martial art), Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and professional mixed martial arts.
Director
Cristal’s dancing takes her all the way back when she was growing up in Peru. Born and raised in Trujillo, Peru she was placed into dance academies like Instituto Nacional de Cultura to learn Peruvian folklore like Marinera Norteña and ballet at a very early age.
Assistant Director
Courtney Feliz is a lover of exploring cultures of the African diaspora through dance, music, language, and food. Courtney began her dance journey by exploring Latin dance when she moved to NC in 2015.
Co-Musical Director and Percussionist
Originally from Venezuela, Edgar began studying regional percussion through the Popular Culture Workshops of the Fundación Bigott (Caracas) at the age of 10. At 13, he began playing modern drums with professor José Antonio Mato…
Choreographer and Instructor
Born in Mexico, Alma began studying dance at age five. Upon arriving in the U.S. she couldn't find a dance academy where she could explore her Latin American identity, so she began taking classes privately with her sister, Selene Stafford.
Assistant Instructor
Ariana Martinez began her journey in the arts as a child, growing up surrounded by music and dancing. As an adolescent she began her training in dance, acting and vocals through musical theatre.
Rainha da Bateria
Andressa is originally from São Paulo, Brazil. She started practicing samba and tamborim in Charlotte in 2019. Samba brings Brazil to Andressa even while she's far away, she says it makes her soul alive, vibrant, and happy being in this world.
Dancer and Capoeirista
Kayla currently lives in Charlotte and works as a high school teacher and cross country coach. She is a passionate capoeirista, nicknamed Dançarina, and has been part of the NCBAP community for four years.
Dancer
Autumn started dancing at age 4. She trained in ballet, tap and Jazz at the Lumberton School of Ballet in Lumberton, NC, and later transitioned to the Karen Jenkins School of Dance in Red Springs, NC.
Dancer
Carroll started training and performing dance at age seven through Peruvian folklore. She's since explored a wide range of genres from Flamenco to contemporary.
Dancer
From ballet as a little girl, to being the only high school senior to perform a krump solo at her dance company, dance has been a throughline in Briana's life. She began dancing Afro-Latin styles socially in college and was introduced to samba and Capoeira when she moved to Charlotte.
Dancer
Aisha is a Lake Norman, NC native and a lifelong dancer. While she professionally performs Samba and Belly Dance, she has studied many dances from around the world including ballet, modern, Afro-Caribbean, Middle Eastern Folkloric, Classical and Folkloric Indian, and Latin.
Capoeirista - Instructora
Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Reba Bowens has been working with dance and capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian art form incorporating acrobatics, martial arts, music, and dance in Charlotte communities and schools.
Singer
Lady V Poetry is a recording artist, poet, and DJ (DJ Chocolate Rocket) based in Charlotte, NC. Rooted in the church, she started performing at the age of four and hasn't found a mic that didn't call her name.
Singer
Liza Ortiz is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Charlotte, NC. Her most recent work includes Latin-influenced electronic music, performing in Bravo Pueblo, and her solo project, La Brava.
Musician, Composer, and Capoeirista
Welsey Jackson was born and raised in Charlotte. As a natural athlete, he was always interested in the cultivation of the body. He found Capoeira through a friend in college when they introduced him to a mestre he went on to study with for two years.
Musician and Composer
Born and raised in Charlotte, NC, Trevor is a fourth generation musician. He is one of the core members of a band humbly named Nobodi Important.
Dancer, Percussionist, and Capoeirista
Originally from the Dominican Republic, Albert has spent most of his life in Charlotte, NC. He's been a samba dancer and capoeirista with NCBAP for two years now.
Percussionist and Capoeirista
Music and arts have always been a big part of Dan’s life. He’s been a part of NCBAP since 2020, but has been heavily influenced by Brazilian culture for many years.
Musician and Capoeirista
Born and raised in Haïti, Carolyn grew up surrounded by the sound of different types of music from kompa, zouk to rara, salsa to french ballads. Her father introduced her to the organ as a child, then she picked up the violin in her teenage years…
Percussionist and Capoeirista
Claudio Ortiz is a Puerto Rico born, Charlotte based multi-instrumentalist and multimedia artist who has created and performed in several bands, solo projects, plays, and art installations over the last 15 years.
Percussionist and Guitarist
Eduardo, a Venezuelan-born musician-performer, who calls Charlotte, NC his home base. Since 2021, he has been part of NC Brazilian Arts, showcasing his skills on the bass guitar and Caixa.
Musician
Carlos has been passionate about learning and experiencing cultures all his life. He is originally from the Dominican Republic…
Dancer
Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Pedro Oliveira grew up surrounded by the lively beats of Samba. Coming from a family of former passistas, Pedro developed a deep love for the music and dance form.
Student Dance Team
Learn more about our dedicated and determined student team, also known as Equipe Faisca.
