Our Beginnings
Carlos Hill, began teaching martial arts in local schools in the 1980s and opened Playing Life Academy, a home studio, to students for Capoeira and Kung Fu in 1989. The project that started with three children from the neighborhood, grew to classes organized by ages and levels. He and wife Caroline Duke were inspired to form a children's performing troupe that provided martial arts-based entertainment and workshops throughout the Bay Area to schools, community groups and corporations. Since opening, Playing Life Academy has proudly graduated 20 students from the advanced training program.
Footfire Summer Soccer Camp has similar community roots. In the 1990s Carlos organized an informal camp at a local park so that his eldest son, Kamani, and his team could continue their soccer training throughout the summer. This attracted the interest of other children and their parents. In 1995 Footfire Summer Soccer Camps officially began with a three-week program. In 1999 we added a fourth week, began serving lunch and took a competitive team to Hawaii. Since 2009 we have been operating at capacity for eight weeks of the summer season.
“It's important to us that Footfire Soccer Camp not outgrow its community roots. The inspiration has always been my childhood experience of play in Trinidad. There were no camps. There was no expensive equipment. Yet my brother Nigel, sister Leslie, and I went to the fields everyday, all day, organizing the games ourselves and playing our hearts out. Our goal is to pass on the love of play – a simple, self-motivated and organic path to learning - to our students.”
—Carlos Zensay Hill
Our Team
Carlos Zensay Hill, "Luz Divina", founder, director, coach and instructor. Zensay obtained a B.A. in Spanish Literature from Dartmouth College and a M.S. in Educational Administration from SUNY Albany.
Carlos participated as a youth in a variety of sports including cricket, soccer, tennis, swimming and track. In adulthood, his passion for the physical arts translated to Martial Arts training. In 1974 he began study in Shotokan and Goju Ryu Karate under Sensei Victor Collier (8th Degree) in Albany, New York, completing the requirements for first degree Black Belt. When Carlos moved to Berkeley he began study at the Aikido Insitute in Oakland, training to the Shodan level, or first degree Black Belt. By 1980, he was immersed in Capoeira studies under Bira "Mestre Acordeon" Almeida, founder of the United Capoeira Association and was promoted as one of Mestre Acordeon's first American graduates. He also undertook extensive study of Kajukenbo, Wun Hop Kuen Do Kung Fu, under Bill Owens of the Cascos Academy of Martial Arts, Oakland. In 2004, he earned a third degree Black Belt with Sifu Owens. Carlos Zensay Hill has coached teams and privately for many local clubs such as: Albany-Berkeley Soccer Club, Bay Oaks Soccer Club, and the Mavericks. He holds a National Soccer Coaches Association of America "A" level license.
Zensay says he is honored to pass on his knowledge to Playing Life Academy students, to watch them connect with the material, learn and transform through their experiences, becoming more healthy, confident and vibrant.
Caroline Duke, founder, director, Footfire Soccer Camp's chef and art director. Caroline holds a B.A., Mills College and M.A., UC Berkeley, in Asian Art History. In connection with her research on Indian Art, Caroline has traveled extensively in South and South East Asia. For over two decades she studied acting, as well as a variety of movement arts, including Capoeira, Jazz Dance, and Yoga. Her varied experience encompasses a 10-year restaurant career. The source of her Playing Life perspective, however, began with her parents. "Green" when it was only a color, Caroline's mother was gardening, baking, canning, sewing and stretching a dollar in a way that only a child of the Depression could. Her father was a musician and singer in traditional Hawaiian and Jazz styles who began his long entertainment career in childhood, standing atop a fruit crate, soliciting donations. From their example she learned that creativity isn't an option, but the essence of life. She is happiest when she sees Playing Life Academy students exploring their creative spirits.
Nigel Hill, brother of Carlos, program consultant, Footfire Soccer field and equipment coordinator. Nigel, a native Trinidadian, is a consummate outdoorsman. Among his passions are scuba diving, fishing and gardening. He brings a full tool kit of soccer experience as player, youth coach and referee to Footfire Soccer. Nigel is the creator of the Footfire Soccer Tennis Net, a source of endless camp fun. He officiated the first Footfire Soccer Tennis Chamionship. Footfire Summer Soccer Camp thrives as a result of Nigel's tireless contributions.
Both Nigel and Carlos trace their enthusiasm for the physical arts to their parents, especially their mother, a fearless field hockey player and Junior Wimbledon Tennis Competitor in England who served the Government of the Rep. of Trinidad and Tobago as its Director of Physical Education.