Photographer Alexandre Delfino captures the joy, strength and shared experience that define a community of young people in Brazil.
In Embu, São Paulo, where the sound of singing blends with the rhythmic beat of drums, bodies swivel, flip and sway. This is Pé de Anjo, a safe space for children and teens from socially vulnerable backgrounds.
Founded by Neide Soares and Antonio Carlos after the death of their son, the initiative uses capoeira to build individual identity and collective strength.
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form that began as a form of self-defence disguised as dance. Combining music, movement and martial arts, it remains a powerful means of personal expression and resilience.
“Many of the kids have had to grow up quickly and take on adult responsibilities like caring for siblings while their parents are at work,” says photographer Alexandre Delfino, who attended Pé de Anjo himself as a child. “That’s why we mixed capoeira with playful elements like balls and hula hoops. We wanted to create a space of happiness and imagination while also allowing the kids to be kids.”
His images capture the energy of these young people learning to move together, support one another and express themselves both individually and as a group.
“We wanted to highlight the tension between individuality and collective movement,” Delfino adds. In capoeira, that balance is key. Every move is a response, every action shaped by the presence of others. In a broader sense, the series shows how shared activity can help us address shared challenges. It’s a reminder that building stronger communities often starts with learning how to move together.
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