Patrick Hilligan (Contra Mestre Galego) graduated from Jogo de Corpo of the United Capoeira Association as a "formado" in Berkeley, California during the summer of 2000. Mestre Acordeon and Mestre Rã, Patrick's teachers and founders of the United Capoeira Association, bestowed upon him the rank of Professor. Soon after graduating, Contra Mestre Galego moved inland to Sacramento to begin his career as a capoeira teacher. He immediately began teaching classes in many places around Sacramento. In late 2004, Patrick founded Água De Beber and opened the Capoeira Arts Academy in uptown Sacramento. In the summer of 2005, Patrick was promoted to the rank of Contra Mestre which is a very respected rank in the world of Capoeira. Most recently, in November of 2009, Patrick moved Água De Beber to MOVE Studios and the academy has grown to more than 100 members, offers multi-level classes 6 days a week and performs regularly around the Northern California area. Contra Mestre Galego stays busy teaching the Capoeira course he founded at CSU Sacramento and remains committed to teaching his students in his academy in Sacramento.


 

 
Contra-Mestre Galego
aka Patrick Hilligan
 
Teaching/Work Experience    
Present - 2006

Professor

California State University
Sacramento, California
  Teaching an accredited capoeira course offered through the Physical Education Department.  
     
Present - 2004

Owner/Head Instructor

Capoeira Arts Academy
Sacramento, California

  Renovated 5000sq/ft space into athletic training facility.  Responsible for all aspects of business, training program, and artistic direction, including financial management, public relations, facility maintenance, lesson plans, teaching more than 500 classes per year, event planning, and choreographing and performing in shows.  
     
2004 - 2001

Owner/Head Instructor

Brazilian Arts Center
Sacramento, California

In October of 2001 opened the Brazilian Arts Center, an academy for capoeira and related cultural art forms, including music, dance, martial arts, and acrobatics.  Teaching daily classes to the public and forming a performance group which has appeared at local schools, private functions, various festivals, parades, and other events throughout Northern California
     
2002 - 2001

Middle School Teacher/Physical Education

Geothe Middle School
Sacramento, California

Taught physical education in a public school setting to 7th and 8th grades

     
Present - 1997

Capoeira Teacher

United Capoeira Association
Berkeley & Sacramento, California

Teaching over 500 classes per year to children and adults in the Berkeley, Sacramento, and Davis areas.  Founded the Capoeira Água De Beber group in Sacramento in the fall of 2000. 
     
2000 - 1996

Gymnastics Coach/Gym Administration

Head Over Heels Gymnastics
Emeryville, California
Taught gymnastics, recreational level and up to groups and individuals, ages 2 through adults.  Administrative responsibilities included staffing recreational level gym program, planning and staffing camps, gym maintenance, fundraising, and the new teacher training program
     
EDUCATION    
2000 - 1990

Graduate - capoeira training program

United Capoeira Association
Berkeley, California
  Ten years of continuous training in all aspect of capoeira under Mestre Acordeon and Mestre Rã.  Curriculum included martial arts, music, dance and acrobatics, Portuguese, history, and related art forms.  Five trips to Brazil to train in capoeira and related subjects. Currently participating in ongoing teacher training with the United Capoeira Association.  
     
1999

Certificate - Gymnastics teacher training program

Head Over Heels Gymnastics
Emeryville, California
     
1997

Graduate, BS Physical Education- Kinesiology

San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California
Emphasis in Human Movement Studies.  Included courses in anatomy, physiology, biodynamics, and computer applications
     
Other Skills    
  Bilingual in Portuguese  

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