Professor Pião
Photo by Tiba Vieira
Professor Pião (Alisson Silveira) has been training Capoeira for more than 25 years. He began at age 4 in his home town of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. At the age of 18, he began touring internationally as a solo Capoeira performer with performing group Magic Life. In 2007 he joined Mestre Jelon's dance company, DanceBrazil. During his tour, a photo of him doing his “signature” side-ways handstand appeared in the New York Times. He then settled in the United States, first in Miami, FL and now in Brooklyn, NY, where he continues to train Capoeira and teaches martial arts full-time to more than 500 students at a high-needs elementary school.
Professor Pião has also appeared in numerous TV Programs and AD Campaigns. His appearance on the reality show South Beach Tow has gone viral on youtube, and at the time of this writing has more than 5 million views and counting. Professor Pião has also been in ad campaigns for Macy's and Nike, has appeared on ABC's Good Morning America, and toured to countless dance, martial arts and folk festivals nationwide, including Central Park's Summer Stage, and the annual Folk Festival of Bangor, Maine. He is also an avid surfer and sportsman, and lives with his wife and 2 daughters in Brooklyn, New York.
Professor Pião (with dreadlocks) and Professor Frajola, on the cover of Capoeira Magazine