The Brazilian Cultural Center of New England (BCCNE) is dedicated to the promotion, preservation and advancement of Brazilian culture, especially Afro-Brazilian culture and the performing arts. The center is home to two long-standing performing entities, Group Capoeira Camara Angola and Samba Tremeterra.  Instruction is provided in Capoeira Angola and Samba drum and dance, as well as traditional instrument making. The BCCNE also offers training and rehearsal space for a full range of other martial arts and performing arts, including African and Latin dance and percussion.

Our goal is to bring the roots of Capoeira Angola to the US annually to bear the fruit of old Traditions.

Mestre Deraldo Ferreira is Founder and Artistic Director of The Brazilian Cultural Center of New England, one of three Brazilian Cultural Points in the US, designated by then Brazilian Minister of Culture, Gilberto Gil. A Mestre (official master) of Capoeira, Mestre Deraldo brings a 35-year tenure in Capoeira, Samba drumming and dancing, musical composition and choreography. He is among the first to bring the Capoeira art form and Brazilian Samba dance and percussion to North America.

Mestre Deraldo began studying Capoeira at the age of 14. He founded the Academy of Capoeira in his hometown of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil, and he became a certified Mestre of Capoeira in 1984. Deraldo studied Capoeira Angola with Grand Mestre João Pequeno de Pastinha, student of Grand Mestre Pastinha, the “father and protector of capoeira” from an early age in Brazil. Grand Mestre João Pequeno graduated Deraldo as a master of Capoeira Angola in 2004. Grand Mestre João Grande was also a teacher of Mestre Deraldo, and he considers Grande Mestre João Grande one of his greatest inspirations in Capoeira Angola.

Deraldo is a featured music and dance soloist with Osvaldo Golijov’s "La Pasión Según San Marcos," in running performances worldwide. In the 1990’s Deraldo founded and continues to direct the Brazilian music and dance troupe Samba Tremeterra,which puts on exhilarating shows throughout the region. As a performer with Young Audiences of Massachusetts, Deraldo regularly puts on educational shows at schools throughout the state.

Of equal importance is Deraldo’s talent and experience as an instructor. The Brazilian Cultural Center of New England is home to Mestre Deraldo’s school of capoeira: The Academy of Mestre João Pequeno de Pastinha, Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola, as well as home to his samba dance and Afro-Brazilian percussion classes. Mestre Deraldo founded schools of Capoeira in Canada and in Italy, and over the past 25 years, has taught annually at Amherst College, Hampshire College, MIT, Smith College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, as well as numerous dance and music studios.