Led by CLAS Outreach Coordinator Julio Beltrán Tapia & created alongside CLAS Assistant Director Leila Vieira, Capoeira in the Classroom is one of the strongest ongoing outreach programs, reaching hundreds of students at over a dozen schools in the Columbus area. Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines movement, martial arts, music, singing and acrobatics. Capoeira in the Classroom brings the art into local K–12 schools across the Columbus area. Originally launched in 2023 as a collaboration with the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, the initiative introduces students to Brazilian culture and the Portuguese language while promoting diversity and inclusion through hands-on, repeat classroom visits.
The program emphasizes sustained engagement and cultural exchange rather than one-time workshops. Julio’s personal passion for capoeira and his interactive teaching style have inspired lasting enthusiasm among students and educators alike. CLAS supports the project with bilingual educational guides and children’s books on capoeira, extending its impact beyond the classroom.
Recognized in the Buckeyes Abroadcasts podcast, The Capoeira Experience podcast, and the Westerville City Schools newsletter, the initiative is an important part of CLAS’s mission to connect Ohio communities with Latin American culture through dynamic, community-engaged learning.
In addition to his outreach in schools, Julio (known as Instrutor Beriba in the capoeira world), currently offers free classes on campus at the Ohio Union—supported by BRASA (Brazilian Student Association)—as well as free community classes for kids and adults at Tuttle Park Community Center, all held on Thursdays.