Marcos da Silva, Mestre Barrão, was born in Recife, a port city on the north-east coast of Brazil. Recife is known for Brazil’s local music, dances and old capoeira traditions. In 1974 Marcos began training capoeira with Mestre Pirajá. While learning the foundations of the art, alongside the skills that would help him make a living, he also showed a talent for percussion and other instruments. After three years with Mestre Pirajá, and with his teacher’s permission, Marcos began training with Mestre Teté in 1977. Mestre Teté taught him the ways of the street capoeirista and showed him the shifting moods of the street: how to be smart and cunning while playing, how to read an opponent, how to resolve the situations he found himself in, the inside and outside of the Capoeira roda… In 1979 Marcos began entering capoeira competitions in north-east Brazil, and in 1980 he started teaching. In 1982 the young Barrão decided to test his technique against the best opponents he could find and took part in a respected National Championship in Rio de Janeiro. Thanks to his skill and some luck, he left as champion. On his return, schools, community centres and universities from all over Brazil offered him teaching opportunities, and he eventually founded Grupo Axé Capoeira. In 1987 Mestre Pirajá graduated him as a First Degree Mestre (Master). Today he holds the title of 2nd Degree Mestre. In 1990 Mestre Barrão was invited to perform his art at the International Children’s Festival in North America and eventually found himself at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival in Canada. After spending 1991 teaching in Italy, Barrão decided in 1992 to settle in Canada and teach in various regions. He pioneered the Traditional International Capoeira Encounter, where respected and renowned Mestres from around the world come together to share their skills. In 1996 he opened Canada’s first Capoeira Academy. Today Mestre Barrão is frequently invited to teach and lead international capoeira seminars. In 2000 the Mestres who gathered at the ‘Melhores Do Seculo’ (Best of the Century) event in Curitiba, Paraná (Brazil) recognised Mestre Barrão as one of the best capoeiristas of the century for his skill and his contribution to capoeira. Besides 10 music albums, Mestre Barrão and his group Axé Capoeira have released a joint album with Mestre Burguês that is still very popular throughout Brazil. They have also released the video albums Axé Capoeira 2000, International Encounter 2000 and the Axé Capoeira shows Brazil 2001 – Brazil 2003 and Brazil 2005. Mestre Barrão currently has schools in Türkiye, Canada, Brazil, the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Russia, China, Trinidad & Tobago, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Serbia, Azerbaijan, France, England, the Czech Republic, Angola, Japan, Barbados, Belarus, the Dominican Republic and Poland.