Gracefully precise movements choreographed to unique rhythms echo from the combination of the berimbau – a single-cord string attached to a long stick – different percussion instruments, woven rattle and tambourine. This hypnotic fusion shapes the cultural expression known as capoeira, where ritual, dance and martial art meet in chants and rhythmic motions, honouring its history originated in Brazilian colonial times.

In the mid-16th century, enslaved Africans working in the fields created what would later become Brazil's earliest form of capoeira, disguising fighting techniques as ritual. Since then, capoeira developed into two distinct versions, Angola and Regional, with the latter being the most widely known. Some Indigenous peoples have also embraced the cultural form, adapting capoeira to their own traditions and forms of expression.

More than just a practice, capoeira offers a place for gathering, learning, sharing and honouring the past – a true community, which is precisely what photographer Priscilla Gragg found when introduced to it. A third-generation photographer, Gragg found in capoeira a grounding force: a way to honour her diaspora and remain connected to Brazil while living as an immigrant in the United States. She immersed herself in the practice, connecting with communities worldwide and documenting their traditions.

“Through movement, music, and community, Capoeira represents resilience, identity, and an unbreakable bond between those who practice it. These same values are at the heart of many communities, each offering their own form of connection and enrichment. My hope is to inspire people to find something that they, too, would love to be a part of – something that gives them a sense of belonging, purpose, and the profound impact that a strong community can have on our lives.”

In Gragg’s photographs, capoeira moves beyond words, offering a glimpse into a tradition that continues to pulse with resilience and belonging.