Mestre Azeitona

Mario Sérgio Moreno da Silva (Mestre Azeitona) was born in Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil on November 3, 1966. He began practicing capoeira in 1985 with the capoeira group Chapéu de Couro of Mestre Corisco in Recife, Brasil.  Since 1989, he has developed works with Capoeira as a teacher. In 2002, he came to Canada and settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2004 with the support of Contra Mestre Fabio Cuencas (in Ottawa, Ont) he started capoeira group Dendê do Recife. In September of 2010 Azeitona received his white cord and the title of “Mestre” from Mestre João Mulatinho (Mestre Corisco’s teacher), president of Pernambuco’s Capoeira Federation. Along with his abilities as a capoeirista, Azeitona is also a great musician and bandleader.

Monitora Paula

Paula Virginia de Siqueira e Silva (Monitora Paula) was born in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil on March 10, 1973. She started training capoeira in 1995 with the capoeira group Chapéu de Couro  of Mestre Corisco, Recife, PE. In 2001, she moved to Canada and settled in Halifax NS, where she began teaching capoeira and Brazilian folk dance. In 2004 she co-founded Dendê do Recife along with Mestre Azeitona and Contra Mestre Fabinho Cuencas.

Azeitona and Paula are currently living in Igarassu, PE with their family, eagerly awaiting their application to immigrate to Canada permanently to be processed.