Confidence
Students learn to try difficult movements, perform with others, and build trust in their own progress.
About Roots
Capoeira that helps kids grow with confidence.
Roots Capoeira de Ouro is a Des Moines nonprofit using movement, music, culture, and community to help young people build resilience, creativity, rhythm, and self-expression.
Our Mission
Developing resilience, creativity, and self expression.
Roots Capoeira de Ouro serves youth and the broader community through Capoeira instruction, performance, cultural education, music, and movement. The program creates a place where students can practice discipline and play at the same time.
Who We Are
A community program rooted in Capoeira.
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form that blends martial arts, dance, acrobatics, music, language, and game strategy. At Roots, students learn movement and rhythm while also learning respect, awareness, creativity, and connection.
Our classes welcome kids, adults, families, and community partners in the Des Moines area. The youth program is especially important because Capoeira gives students a physical, musical, and cultural outlet where they can build confidence over time.
Read about our lineageWhy It Matters
Capoeira gives kids more than a class.
Students practice skills that carry into school, friendships, family life, and future leadership.
Creative Thinking
The Capoeira game asks students to listen, adapt, improvise, and respond with control.
Rhythm and Culture
Music, instruments, songs, Portuguese words, and Afro-Brazilian history are part of the learning.
Community
Students practice respect, mentorship, teamwork, and belonging inside the roda and beyond it.
What We Do
Classes, performances, and community programming.
Roots offers kids classes, adult classes, school and community programming, public demonstrations, music, and cultural education. Students learn fundamentals like ginga, kicks, escapes, partner sequences, acrobatics, music, and roda strategy.
Donations and volunteers help keep programming accessible, especially for youth and families who benefit from low-cost or free opportunities.
Support Helps Provide
- Accessible Youth Classes
- Lower-cost programming for students and families.
- Uniforms and Materials
- Student support, class equipment, instruments, and supplies.
- Community Events
- Workshops, rodas, guest teachers, performances, and cultural learning.
- Volunteer and Board Capacity
- More support for outreach, fundraising, planning, and long-term growth.
Get Involved
Help Roots keep growing in Des Moines.
Families, donors, volunteers, board members, and community partners all help Roots Capoeira reach more students. If you want to support youth access, sponsor programming, volunteer, or learn more about classes, we would like to hear from you.