Mestra Colibri

Kátia Conant, known as Mestra Colibri, was born in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She started capoeira in 1990 at 14 years old with Contra-Mestre Tom in Grupo Arte Brasileira. In 1992, Contra-Mestre Tom and his students migrated to Capoeira Brasil under the supervision of Mestre Paulinho Sabiá. In 1999, as a green cord, Colibri became a direct student of Mestre Paulinho Sabiá. As a brown cord, Colibri moved to New York City in 2010 to start teaching and cultivating her own branch of the group.

In 2013, she moved to Chicago and opened up the Chicago Capoeira Center in 2016, the same year she received her black cord. She went to receive the title of Mestra in 2023. In 2024, Mestra Colibri departed from Grupo Capoeira Brasil and went on to found her own collective, Coletivo Ilê Capoeira, on January 1st, 2025.

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Mestra Colibri travels quarterly to Seattle to give classes, workshops and offer support.​

Contramesta Água-viva

Contramestra Água-viva has been teaching youth and adult classes in West Seattle since 2016. She works under the direction of Mestra Colibri, Coletivo Ilê Capoeira, based in Chicago. She is also the Founder and Artistic Director of VivaArts Seattle. 

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Contramestra Água-viva has 25 years of experience in Capoeira and over 30 years studying various movement practices. She continues to attend educational events and workshops, and  travels to Brazil and to other locations around the world each year to participate in Capoeira events, competitions, and workshops; and as a sought out teacher she is invited to lead Capoeira classes and workshops around the U.S. throughout the year.

Contramestra Água-viva and her students are community leaders and role models who promote the values of respect, integrity, strength and equality. She holds classes for beginners or experienced athletes, and classes for all ages- including toddlers, kids, teens and adults.

Instrutor Urso

Instructor Urso has been teaching Capoeira and fitness classes at VivaArts since 2023. Urso works and trains under the direction of Contramestra Agua-viva. 

Instructor Urso has 9 years of experience in Capoeira and 25 years of experience in various martial arts including Wing Chun Kung Fu and Iaijutsu. Outside of martial arts, Instructor Urso practices steel mace training, weight lifting, and calisthenics. 

Instructor Urso currently leads the Capoeira Fundamentals class and the Bodyweight Conditioning class at VivaArts. He prioritizes respect for all students regardless of level or experience, and enthusiastically welcomes all beginners to classes.