CONTRA - MESTRE DENIS - Denis Chiaramonte

Denis Chiaramonte is from Jundiaí, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. He has played capoeira for twelve years, beginning his study at age 16. He trained with various masters in Sao Paulo before joining the Cordão de Ouro Capoeira Association. As a student and an instructor with Mestre Suassuna for the last five years, Profesor Denis, as he likes to be called, has helped Mestre Suassuna host workshops in Brazil, Israel, the US, as well as running his own academy in Jundiaí. He recieved his Professor cord in Champaign, IL in March 2003,then received his contra−mestre (under master) cord from mestre suassuna in January 2004 at Capoeirando, an international capoeira festival held in Bahia, Brazil.

In 2002, the University of Illinois Capoeira Club was able to attract "professor Denis" to teach locally. His arrival put Champaign−Urbana on an international map and led to the tremendous development of capoeira in the Midwest. As a contra−mestre (under master) of Cordao de Ouro Capoeira Association, he represents one of the largest and most important capoeira groups in the world. He has students in Lansing, MI, Springfield, IL, St. louis, MO and Lexington, KY.

Denis also works with several community groups and campus organizations to promote multiculturalism and international understanding. A highly skilled choreographer and musician, he teaches in the Dance Department and provides lecture−demonstrations for the World Music classes at UIUC.