Dendê Do Recife is a capoeira group that was founded in 2005 by Mestre Azeitona, Contra-Mestre Fabio Cuencas, and Monitora Paula. Their goal was to further develop capoeira here in Canada and to emphasize the style and culture of their home city: Recife in the province of Pernambuco in Brazil's Northeast. Mestre Azeitona leads the group here in Halifax as he has done since he first arrived here in 2003. Along with Monitora Paula they have created a vibrant community around their skills as capoeira teachers, dancers and musicians. Dendê Do Recife is actively running a dance studio in Halifax where there are weekly classes for children, beginners, and advanced students.