Mestre Rogério

Rogério Soares Peixoto was born in 1954 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He began his capoeira journey in 1972, at the age of eighteen, in his hometown.

Through seventeen years of dedicated training, Rogério developed under the tutelage of two of the most important figures in the Capoeira Angola revival: Mestre Moraes (founder of GCAP) and Mestre Cobra Mansa (founder of FICA). In 1989, he received the title of Mestre de Capoeira Angola from both masters—a dual recognition that reflects his immersion in both major Angola lineages.

Shortly after becoming mestre, Rogério founded the first Capoeira Angola school in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. This was a significant achievement—bringing traditional Angola practice to a city that had not previously had a dedicated Angola academy.

In May 1990, capoeirista Índio (Carlos Roberto Gallo) invited Rogério to travel to Germany. The move would prove permanent. Settling in Kassel, Rogério began teaching Capoeira Angola in a country where the art form was still largely unknown.

In 1992, Rogério and Índio formally established the Associação de Capoeira Angola Dobrada (ACAD) in Kassel. This was one of the first Capoeira Angola organizations founded on European soil—a reverse of the typical pattern where Brazilian groups expand outward to Europe. The organization's name references the "Angola Dobrada" berimbau toque, a doubled variation of the traditional Angola rhythm.

The group's stated mission is "to cultivate, spread and maintain the art and rituals of Capoeira Angola in accordance with the tradition"—without distorting its essence.

Today, Rogério lives in Düsseldorf and teaches regularly in Frankfurt, Kassel, Hamburg, and Freiburg. ACAD has expanded to include locations across three countries: Germany (Frankfurt, Freiburg, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kassel), Italy (Bologna, Cesena), and Brazil (Belo Horizonte, São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras, Curitiba). The organization hosts three annual international meetings rotating between Freiburg (May), Cesena (July/September), and Belo Horizonte (November).

In 2004, Rogério conferred the mestre title upon his co-founder Índio—twelve years after they had established ACAD together. This titling confirmed the lineage continuation through Rogério's teaching.

Rogério is recognized as "one of the most important representatives of Capoeira Angola in Brazil and in Europe". His work has helped establish the foundations for Capoeira Angola's presence in German-speaking countries, inspiring subsequent generations of practitioners.