About Professora Onda

Rhonda Coleman, an Afro-Honduran-American was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was introduced to her Honduran culture at the age of 3 when she visited her grandmother for the first time in La Ceiba, Honduras. A seed was planted at that time which would later bloom into a love of Afro-Latino music and dance.  After a brief stay in Honduras, Rhonda returned home to New Orleans, where her mother enrolled her in African dance classes with Kumbuka dance company.  The love of dance and performance grew in Rhonda as a young girl as she continued to study and perform shows with Kumbuka, Elementary school dance troupes, and later a folkloric group from Honduras called Estrella Garifuna. Estrella Garifuna rehearsed and performed “Punta” at concerts, festivals and other venues around New Orleans beginning in  1990. Rhonda performed with the group until she left home to serve in the US Air Force. Her last performance with them was in 1997 for the Festival “Mensaje”.   She gained choreography experience both in Estrella Garifuna, and as a cheerleader (and cheer captain) for Rabouin Senior H.S.

Professora Onda’s capoeira career began in 1997 at Capoeira Malandragem (United Capoeira Association, UCA) in Tucson, AZ. Under the instruction of Contramestre Dondi “Enxu” Marble and under the guidance of Mestre Acordeon, Mestre Rã and Mestra Suelly, Onda studied the movements, history and culture of capoeira. Her desire to learn as much as possible led her to take every opportunity to travel for classes, workshops, batizados etcetera.

In addition to her capoeira training, Onda has studied the Healing Art of Massage Therapy,  Personal Training, Group Fitness, and Nutrition. She is a Nationally Certified, State Licensed Massage Therapist (Arizona & Louisiana), a certified group fitness instructor (AZ), personal trainer and collaborative performance artist.

Now a well rounded instructor of capoeira culture and promoter of overall health and wellness, Onda is driven to do her part in helping rebuild the city, people and culture of New Orleans by sharing her knowledge of this inspiring art form Capoeira.

2008:                  Academia de Capoeira Onda Nova, New Orleans, LA -

                                  Capoeira Arts and Culture

2005:                        Graduate (Formada) United Capoeira Association

1999-2005:            Dance Instructor, Capoeira Malandragem-Tucson, AZ

                                  Capoeira, Samba, Maculelê

From 1998 to 2005:

Attended several events annually in the U.S. and abroad for educational advancement in the art of capoeira.

Annual participation: Denver/Boulder, CO; Berkeley, CA; Las Cruzes/Albuquerque, NM; Sacramento, CA

Batizados: Seattle, WA; Berkeley, CA; Sacramento, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; San Diego, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Las Cruzes, NM; Albuquerque, NM; Denver, CO; Boulder, CO; Phoenix, AZ; Sarasota, FL; Mexico City, Mexico; Jundiai, São Paolo, Brazil;

Other Events: New Orleans, LA; Miami, FL; Hermosillo, Mexico; São Jose dos Campos, Brazil; Natal, Brazil; Recife, Brazil; Maceo, Brazil; Ilheus, Brazil; Arraial do Cabo, Brazil; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.

Mestres/Teachers-Workshops by: Mestre Acordeon (UCA), Mestre Rã (UCA), Mestra Suelly (UCA), Mestre Calango /Tião(UCA), Mestre Galo, Cont.Mestre Avestruz, Cont.Mestre Dondi, Cont.Mestre Amunka, Mestre Lobão (Besouro Manganga), Mestre Suassuna (Cordão de Ouro), Mestre Camisa (Abada), Mestre Ramos (Senzala), Mestre Gato (Senzala), Mestre Nenel, Mestre Amen Santos (Batuque), Mestre Urubu (USA), Mestre Jelon (Brasil), Mestre Boneco (Brasil), Mestra Edna Lima (Abada), Mestre Joel, Mestre Rony (Volta ao Mundo), Mestre Canguru (CDO), Mestre Mariano (Batuque), Mestre Lua Branca (Quilombo Queimado), Mestre Curisco (Quilombo Queimado), Mestre Doutor, Mestre Deputado, Mestre Itapoan, Mestre Magro, Mestre Marrom.