Daniel Santos (Mestre Pitta, he/him) was born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.  With over 30 years of training in both Capoeira and Afro-Brazilian dance, he joyfully shares his native Afro-Brazilian heritage through Capoeira and dance, two of the most significant artistic expressions of Black Brazilian culture.

Daniel began training Capoeira under Mestre Washington and at the age of 17 became the Regional Capoeira Champion of Salvador. He studied dance at Bahia’s Cultural Foundation (FUNCEB) and at Universidad Federal da Bahia.  Daniel taught and performed extensively, appearing on local and national television programs promoting Capoeira education. With funding from UNESCO, Daniel provided Capoeira instruction to over 350 under-privileged youth. In 2011 he earned the highest rank of Mestre on a visit back to Salvador, Bahia.

Daniel’s professional training and ability to transmit the vibrant energy of Bahia, Brazil create engaging and uplifting classes. He believes the education gained from Brazilian dance and Capoeira teaches us how we can respect ourselves, and each other and how we can create more harmonious ways of relating to the world in which we live.

As a native New Yorker, Aileen (she/her) began her dance and performance training at an early age and advanced her studies in New York City, Seattle, and Brazil. Aileen also holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in cross-cultural community health.

From 2005-2008 Aileen deepened her studies of dance in Salvador, Brazil. She also taught dance to children in the city’s favelas (poorest urban areas) and helped produce local theater productions and events.  There she strengthened her techniques in Afro-Brazilian, Orixa Dance Movement, and The Silvestre Technique. Her teachers and mentors from Brazil include Vera Passos, Rosangela Silvestre, Nem Brito da Silva, Marilza Olivera, Nilginha Fonseca and Lino Amilton. 

Aileen’s experience, rooted in the healing and performing arts, brings a grounded and dynamic energy to her teaching and performance style. Her charisma and enthusiasm radiates her belief in dance as an art form which cultivates joy and cross-cultural understanding through a common corporal language.

Cami (she/her), also known as Profesora Guerreiera,  first encountered Brasil in Motion through their Afro-Brazilian Dance class at Cornish College of the Arts in 2009. The following spring she began her first Capoeira beginner series. Originally Cami was drawn to Capoeira as a fun way to stay in shape. However, as she continued she realized it aligned with her own philosophical beliefs and it has helped her find strength during difficult times.

Cami has danced since childhood and has also trained in movement techniques such as Suzuki method, bio-mechanics, and clown for theater artists. She holds a B.F.A. in theater from Cornish College of the Arts. Over the last 14 years Cami has dedicated herself to the art of Capoeira, earning the rank of Profesora on a trip to Salvador in 2023.  Her unique way of teaching motivates students, and brings the unifying essence of Capoeira to full light. Her experience in the performing arts creates powerful, mesmerizing experiences for audiences. Cami is thrilled to be a part of Grupo de Capoeira Moringa de Barro and Brasil in Motion dance company.

Naomi began dancing at the age of 3 and has extensive training in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, & Lyrical. As a professional Salsa dancer, Naomi taught, performed and competed locally and internationally for 15 years and was one of Salsa Salvage’s lead dancers for 10 years.

Naomi started studying Afro-Brazilian dance with Brasil In Motion at Balance Studio in 2014. In 2015 she began training Capoeira with Brasil in Motion’s Capoeira group.  In 2016, she began performing with their company.

Naomi’s passion for Brazilian dance and Capoeira drives her to continue to go deeper into the culture and language of Brazil including traveling to Salvador, Bahia in the summer of 2019 for Brasil In Motion’s annual cultural immersion trip. Dance has always been Naomi’s form of passion and expression, and it is truly what she lives to do. Naomi will forever keep a place in her heart for the art form.

Jamie (she/her) is the assistant manager at Brasil in Motion, where her journey at the studio began last September when she joined a Zumba class. Drawn in by the studio’s vibrant energy and welcoming community, she officially joined the team as assistant manager in March. Since then, Jamie has been dedicated to supporting the studio’s mission and to helping keep everything moving—both behind the scenes and on the dance floor.

Originally from a small rural town in California, Jamie first moved to Brazil in 2008 as an exchange student and returned in 2018 to study at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. It was during those times that she fell in love with Samba and Brazilian Zouk, two dances that continue to inspire her connection to culture and movement. Deeply aligned with Brasil in Motion’s vision to build bridges between communities through artistic expression, healing, and joy, Jamie believes in the power of dance to bring people together and create a sense of belonging.

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Sandra (she/her) has been a part of the Bahia in Motion community for close to 10 years. She is enthusiastically committed to supporting Brasil In Motion’s mission and vision.  Sandra has studied Brazilian dance for 12 years and Capoeira for 2 years with Brasil in Motion and is a proud member of the Brasil in Motion dance company. Always looking to go deeper into understanding the roots of Afro-Brazilian culture, she has traveled to Bahia 4 times as a part of Brasil In Motion’s cultural immersion tours. 

Sandra’s professional background includes holding various positions in the non-profit sector and working as a corporate travel consultant. The most cherished moments for Sandra are times spent with her husband Ken, and children Fiona and Liam.