Mariano Silva was born and raised in Salvador Bahia Brazil. Immersed in the culture, Mariano gained his passion for singing from listening to his mother sing in the kitchen. He began dancing and training capoeira at age 10 and founded his first academy at age 23. In 2001, he left Brazil to tour with the Ballet Folclorico Do Brazil. He settled in Santa Barbara to teach at the University of California and founded his second academy and community center. Mariano still travels to teach and perform internationally as a solo artist as well as with his performance groups.