Contra Mestre Azeitona

Mario Sérgio Moreno da Silva (Contra-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, Recife PE.  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. Along with his abilities as a capoeirista, Azeitona is 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 Contra Mestre Azeitona.

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