Modern Combat Masters: Professora Amazones

Jah Burton, Professora Amazonas joins us to discuss the healing processes after injuries:She serves as the Curriculum Developer of for the Afro Brazilian Arts & Education Academy as well as the Artistic Director for Grupo Liberdade de Capoeira, the first capoeira group formed in New Jersey. Upholding the flag and legacy built by her teacher, Mestre Cigano (Robson Ribeiro), she works tirelessly with her business partner Profesor Macaco (Saman Dashti) to provide quality engaging workshops for adults and at risk youth. As a youth growing up in Queens, New York, she trained Jujitsu and Judo. Track and Field brought her to New Jersey, where she competed and coached for Seton Hall U., NJ City U. and St. Peter’s College.

Instrutora Amazonas spent many formative years studying with Profesor Esperanca (Carlos Walter) as well as completed seminar for Teaching Artist Training, directed by Mestre Ombrinho (Michael Goldstein), the first American born Capoeira master. She combines all of her experiences in her various disciplines to encourage others to take a trip through the African Diaspora in her workshops offered under Arts for Kids, LLC and Capoeira Programs, LLC for the past 4 years. She has taught workshops and studied Capoeira philosophy, movement and song in various cities in the United States as well as Mexico and Brazil. Concurrently, she teaches mathematics in the Newark Public Schools system, and is a dedicated teaching artist and performer in several West African dance and drum companies.