Mestre Barrao

Mestre Barrão, born Marcos "Barrão" DaSilva in 1961, is a Brazilian capoeira master and the founder of Grupo Axé Capoeira. He began his capoeira journey at age 13 under Mestre Pirajá and went on to become a Brazilian Champion in the National Capoeira Championships in Rio de Janeiro. In 1982, Barrão established Grupo Axé Capoeira, which has since grown into a worldwide organization with schools across the globe.

After moving to Vancouver, Canada in 1987, Mestre Barrão played a pivotal role in introducing and popularizing capoeira in North America. He's known for his contributions to the art form, including the reintroduction of Coco de Roda, a traditional Brazilian dance. Barrão continues to be an influential figure in the capoeira community, conducting workshops and batizados internationally while overseeing the development of his school, which boasts around 20,000 members.