Celebrating 30 years of sharing Brasilian culture, the wonderful team of Brasarte continues to offer high quality teaching and cultural events in the East Bay. My teenage daughter and I have attended their beautiful Lavagem festivals for years but are now regulars in class. We're enjoying our experience so much we have joined their Carnaval comparsa, Bloco Ginga Brasil, and we're rehearsing for the San Francisco Carnaval parade. Samba Tuesdays are held at Silki Studios in Oakland with a Samba Foundations class, an All Levels class, and Intermediate/Advanced level. The class schedule also includes a Cardio Samba class on Thursday at Ashkenaz and Brazilian dance and kids' classes on Sundays at La Pena. All classes are led by experienced teachers who are positive and encouraging. I appreciate the attention to proper technique and the challenging of learning choreography. My samba has leveled up in a short amount of time--and I've been taking classes all over the Bay Area for over a decade! In other words, if you want to learn to samba like a Brasilian, Brasarte is the place to do so. read more

The online listings for this place need a refresh, but the classes themselves are great. The correct website is: https://berkeleycapoeira.com For some reason, there are a lot of listings to an old website that does not reflect current classes. But once you know when the classes take place, it's a Very reliable place to take classes and the teachers I've seen have been great. They offer classes for kids, teens, and adults-- for samba, drumming, and capoeira....and possibly more. My 10 yr old loves the Capoeira classes. Highly recommend them. The other classes look great too!. read more

Awesome cultural center with dance classes and capoeira! The beginner samba class is fun and hot MILF action - I guess I'm more used to classes with men? But it's the Bay Area and Latin dance classes with energy and men don't happen. Still I recommend especially if you're an older lady looking for action! It'd be cool if they had a samba class for men which is way more fun for me! Nice instructor and I think the more advanced courses match your steps to the beat. read more

Wonderful! I did African dance and it was exhilarating! Wonderful teacher and love drumming. Highly recommend.

Here's a legal drug that's good for you! Shed the winter doldrums and a few pounds by getting the best antidepressant I know: Afro-Brazilian or African dancing to live drumming! I heartily recommend, as a former dancer of a polar opposite form, that you kick off your shoes and just try this. It's cheaper than a gym membership and will melt off the pounds while flooding you with endorphins. In each of there is a heartbeat that responds to the primal call of the big, deep drums. They can move you irresistibly to a place beyond all care. BrasArte is a true palace of culture. It is a welcoming, open space with a big main studio, a good floor, and well-attended classes that create enough anonymity to keep the pressure low and a group spirit to heal and inspire. I'm no longer a sylph, and my fat old ass feels welcome here, bobbing and bouncing in a happy sea of every age and body type. A few tips for first-timers: Don't worry about the combinations (steps) too much. Do your best and just keep up with the traffic! Nobody needs you to be perfect and every one of them was a beginner once. Wear what you would to a yoga class, or to wash the car: a T-shirt and leggings, a sports bra and a sarong, yoga pants and a sleeveless T with a sweatshirt for warming up. No need to look or be affluent! It's traditionally barefoot. Some people's feet may need a little toughening, so notice if you get a little footsore about halfway through class, and either take a break or pull on ballet slippers, jazz shoes, dance paws or nonslip socks. You'll build protective calluses in no time. So glad we have this place. It is the epitome of the best the Bay Area has to offer! Multicultural, diverse, tolerant, inclusive and best of all JOYOUS! read more

Fabulous concert Brazil Meets Big Band with Spok- Playing Frevo from Recife! Special Guests: Artefolia Dance Company Dancer Jae Shin Vocalist Sandy Cressman at Brasarte/Casa da Cultura in Berkeley August 27 at 6:30 p.m. Amazing music , concert & dancers. Just what Berkeley needs to recover from the beautiful & focused actions today for justice, respect, freedom & democracy. read more

BrasArte: World Dance Center - Dance Studios Near Me - Oakland, California

I enjoy the Saturday morning West African dance class with Naby Bangoura. He teaches Guinean dance with live drumming. He teaches different steps each week and the class is open to all levels. It's a GREAT workout! Bring cash to tip the drummers. I discovered BrasArte during the International Food Festival. The space has a nice vibe to it and I love the green dance floor. read more

Great place to enjoy the Brazilian culture with the various dance classes, musical events, and workshops that take place here, plus the annual Brazilian Day Festival which I thoroughly enjoyed. I took the Brasilian Carnaval dance class on Saturdays for a number of years with Danilo and it was great fun, taken Rodson's class which was energetic and fun, and have attended the Halloween Carnival and Ball as well. It was also fun participating with Ginga Brasil in the San Francisco Carnaval Parade in 2012! read more

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Great samba de gafiera, forro and bolero partner dance classes. Fantastic teachers in friendly atmosphere! BrasArte always has amazing visiting artists from Brazil. Currently Marcelo Chocolate from Brazilian Dancing with the Stars is teaching. Can't beat the price! Walk-ins welcome. read more

BrasArte: World Dance Center - Dance Studios Near Me - Oakland, California

It was clear from an early age that my daughter had an interest in dance. However, our local tap/ballet/jaz combo classes, complete with Disney soundtrack tunes and your standard yearly recital, were just not getting it. My daughter was bored, and we were bored.... thank goodness we found WDC! My family has been involved with the WDC for six years now. My two daughters, ages 6 and 12, love both the youth Afro Samba and the youth percussion classes. Classes are held in a beautiful space that is painted and decorated to feel like a village in Bahia. The teachers and musicians here are an extremely talented bunch. Dancers of all skill levels are welcome, and they do a great job of including new dancers and building the kids' confidence. WDC offers a truly unique opportunity for kids to learn about Brazilian culture, and to try a really exciting and energetic dance form. Go ahead-- give it a try! read more

I've been studying ballet with Nona Refi at World Dance Center for years -- from the time it was located on Solano Ave, and now that it has moved to San Pablo and Hearst. I've studied ballet for 47 years, all over the country, and Nona is the best teacher I have had the pleasure of practicing ballet with...which is saying a lot! Now the little five year old in our family has begun pre-ballet studies with Nona, and she is loving it! Nona's child ballet classes are musical, inspiring, developmentally appropriate, and fun. I give all of Nona's classes my highest recommendation. adult classes Tues and Thurs 10 a.m. to 11:30 preballet class Tues 3:15 - 4 p.m. beginning ballet for children 6-11 Tues 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. read more

BrasArte: World Dance Center - Nona Refi and a young pre-ballet student - Dance Studios Near Me - Oakland, California

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Dance instructors were really awesome in explaining protocols for dance during covid, dance descriptions, and beliefs behind the ritual movement portions. I'm looking forward to the courses! read more

This is the best place to study Samba, Afro Samba, and other latin dances. The owner and instructor Conceicao is one of the most talented dancers I have ever met.. I feel so lucky to have studied with her. She is a much beloved and respected instructor, dancer, and choreographer. I love the music played during class. She will teach you to be agile and light on your feet. I have learned about the soul of Samba and Afro Samba. I have learned to appreciate the carefree nature and music loving culture of Brazil. I have gained a lot of confidence in my body and move gracefully like a gisele since I studied with her. I have been coming here on and off for over 2 years now. read more

Recently moved to the East Bay and was looking for a good dance studio and I'm really happy with this one! I've taken the Mix Brasilian and the Afro-Samba classes and they're both great! Both instructors are great teachers and create a fun, energetic environment. The Mix Brasilian also has an Afro feel to the moves, and the living drumming in both classes really adds to the feel and energy. Classes are a great deal when you buy a pack, and a great work out too! read more

I loved the Afro Samba class on Tuesday night at 7:15 pm. It was crowded with all different levels of dancers. The teacher is very good at getting us safely warmed up and moving and moves around the room changing where "front" of the room is often so we all get a chance to see him. He has wonderful energy and made me feel welcome and unselfconscious. I will definitely be back. (Drumming was great but a little loud. I might wear ear plugs next time) read more

So much great energy and lovely things happening here with muito axe! My favorites: 1. The use of space for samba, drumming, even tango and West African dancing, concerts, forro, rodas, and capoeira (a Brazilian Martial Art which is an oversimplification of what it really is. Come find out for yourself...) 2. Capoeira with Mestre Accordeon & Mestra Suelly & the comunidade. 3. Rodson's Tuesday night samba class that makes me smile no matter what mood I came in with. Even better now with the live drummers! 4. Mark's fantastic drumming class that is very beginner and intermediate friendly. 5. Preparation for San Francisco Carnaval and parading. My only reason for not giving 5 stars is really quite silly, but I wish there was one name for this establishment instead of three or five.... read more

This place has gotten better. I used to dance here 10 years ago and then it was very snobby. (Ther was a core group of dancers that were unwelcoming) Now it seems to be a much friendlier culture. I feel welcomed and free to strike up a conversation with any of the nice dancers. The instructors are also welcoming and friendly. I am so glad this studio has improved! read more

I have enjoyed 4 different classes Each one was, High energy, Great rhythm's, Excellent work out, Afro Samba, Wow. and live drums! I loved the new class, Very theatrical, & fun) Brasilian Funk, with Linik Silva. The dance floor space, is beautiful with great art too! Highly recommend. read more

What a workout! What artistry! What what! You have got to take the Tuesday night Afro-Brazilian Class, the instructor (Tania) is very sweet and runs an efficient class where all levels can enjoy and learn! You will be moving the entire time, so be ready to sweat. You also will get a brain workout learning all the proper technique. Last but not least you get some cultural understanding of the difference between samba type movement and Afro-Brazilian! read more

What an awesome place! The energy is amazing! They have so many classes, I want to take them all! I look forward to going back again!

I had driven by this place a couple times before I went in. It looked pretty nondescript from the outside. But walk inside and you enter another world. This is a most beautiful space! The whole place is lovely, from the art depicting Orishas on the walls, calabash hanging from the ceiling with speakers in them, clean tastefully decorated and painted bathrooms to the well appointed shower/changing room. I have taken the popular Afro Samba class on Tuesdays with Rodson, it's really fun, and a great workout. The class on Thursdays with Adriane is also good. Both have live music. They have multi class cards for a discount and an updated schedule on their website. The one drawback, and the reason I would give it 4 1/2 stars instead of five if I could, is the floor. It is bouncy and rubber? which is great for your knees and for capoeira, but sticks to my bare feet and gives me blisters. read more

Tanya Leake is the best Zumba teacher I've ever had. I've been attending her Sunday morning class for about a year. She is able to model the movements (keep the class going) and be aware of everyone else at the same time, calling out encouragement. Some teachers can't do both simultaneously. I went to New York City one month and set up to take zumba with three different teachers. Each was good in his/her own way, but no one could do it all. This confirmed my experience of Tanya. She sets up a fun music mix in advance; she doesn't tire; and her system of guiding you with shouts and pointing, keeps you moving in time. read more

My daughter used to be in the children's Brazilian dance class (we moved to the East Coast at the end of 2009.... boohoo). It was a wonderful class. The class size was small and the instructors were very passionate about what they do. The kids got to be really creative with their movements and the music played during the class was energetic and fun. There are lots of additional programs for kids as well, like Camp Ere in the summer and the Iemanja festival. Definitely one of the things I (and my daughter) miss the most about the Bay Area. This is really a unique program for kids that can not be found anywhere else in the country. read more

This place is filled with energetic classes and events beyond any imagination. I love the Rio Samba workshop and class from Ana, who comes once a month to teach. The events that they host here is mostly Brazilian festivities such as the Carnaval, Lavagem, Iemanja, and many more. The caipirinha served by Nick during the festivities really helps develop the festive atmosphere. Just come on and drop by to try a dance class or enjoy the festivities here. read more

This is a fantastic place to take dance classes. I do African Dance with Naby Bangoura on Saturday mornings at 11:30 am. He is a wonderful teacher and beautiful dancer from Guinea, West Africa. We are lucky to dance to live drumming (sometimes we can have five drummers!). The class is high energy and I not only learn how to do African dance moves but what the dances mean in context and how to sing songs in Naby's language. The class is friendly and always open to all levels. We also have some men, children and teenagers joining us at times. African dance is the best for me because it unites movement, culture, community vibe, music, and rhythm. This is as good as it gets! Furthermore, the Zumba classes with Tanya on Tuesday and Thursday mornings have changed my life. She is an inspiring teacher, dancer, and personality. I've never before been able to attend 'exercise class' or a gym because that's not my thing but now I run to her weekly dance classes. The reason why? The music rocks, her energy is infectious, and within the first minute my energy and mood is soaring! Not only have I lost weight, loosened up my hips, firmed my whole body, and increased my energy level but I've learned lots of samba, salsa, merengue, hip hop, and African moves from her creative and funky dance routines. She is awesomeness and I am blessed to have this dance class in my life every week. Highly recommended! read more

Best authentic samba de gafieira and bolero classes in the Bay Area every Thursday and Sunday. Taught by talented Weslei Guimaraes. #bolero #SFgafieira. http://www.brasarte.com read more

My daughter who is 11 has been studying Afro Samba at Brasarte for 4 years and absolutely loves it. More than a dance studio, she has learned about the culture and values of the Bahia region. The TUESDAY 4:15-5:15 pm class offers kids 7-12 technique, fun, community and the very best afro- samba for kids in the Bay Area. read more

Going here for 4 years religiously. This community has changed my life. The dance instruction is very high quality and the community is unique, welcoming, and creative. read more