Grupo Axé Capoeira was founded by Mestre Barrão, Marcos da Silva in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil in 1987. In 1992 Mestre Barrão emigrated to Vancouver, B.C. and founded the international headquarters for Axé Capoeira. Here is where our teacher Contra-Mestre Camara (Jay Spain) met Mestre Barrão and became his first student in Canada. Our group in Arizona was established in 1999 and has been growing stronger every since. We offer classes for adults and children of all ages and offer Brazilian Portuguese language classes. Our group embraces all aspects of the Brazilian culture as well as the traditions of various cultural roots that have brought capoeira to be what it is today. Grupo Axé Capoeira of Arizona is well known throughout the state for laboring tirelessly to share the cultural richness of capoeira, sharing a positive message of respect, diversity and community. Capoeira is a dynamic sport that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and self-defense. Grupo Axé Capoeira Arizona has conducted countless workshops, performances, and residency programs for Arizona elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, corporations, sport teams, churches and charity organizations. We are favored performers with avid followers at multicultural festivals, streets fairs and other events. Grupo Axé Capoeira Arizona is one of the most unique, vibrant and diverse performance groups in Arizona. The philosophy of Grupo Axé Capoeira is to respect all the Mestres, preserve the roots and traditions of apoeira, and train apoeira in all its aspects: as a fight, art, and culture. We endeavor to teach and educate so that capoeira will grow in a positive healthy way. We attempt to pass on to the students physical and mental methods of training so that they learn to create situations and maintain a dialogue within the game. By playing both with friends and enemies, students learn to deal with any situation in or out of the roda.