Capoeira Angola is named for the country credited with its origin, and it is closely connected to, respects, and honors its African past. It weaves intricate movements, spirituality, mental and physical discipline, fight, play, strategy, and philosophy into a rhythmic game of real or ritual combat. It is played slowly and deliberately, but with humor and joyfulness. The end result is spontaneous, unchoreographed, and is a physical “conversation” between players.

Capoeira is a martial art form that originated in the sixteenth century among slaves brought to Brazil from African nations such as Angola, Congo, and Guinea. The New World slave masters, anxious to keep their captives under their strict domination, imposed harsh prohibitions and restrictions on parent forms of capoeira, often referred to as "N'golo".

To ensure their survival, the traditional forms were infused with dance and a new musical accompaniment. Capoeira's deadly potential was hidden from the slave-masters by its dance-like elegance, baffling acrobatics, and the engaging rhythms of its music.