Mestre Efraim Silva’s Dream of Graduation Comes True

Rolha Capoeira

1 minute read

The New Haven Register did a nice story on Mestre Efraim Silva’s high school graduation—at 52 years old.

Silva, owner of Connecticut Capoeira and Dance Center, 1175 State St., quit high school in his native Brazil at 17 to pursue his passion for teaching capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art that requires quick, complex, acrobatic moves.

He went on to attain the highest professional success, becoming a national champion and building a Brazilian dance and capoeira empire here that continues to take him on travels around the globe.

But that one piece was still missing, and part of what took him so long was a fear of the academics, especially math. It turned out not to be any problem for Silva, a lifelong learner. But he said he had help from great teachers in the program.

Silva finished the course work in half of the six months it usually takes. And at adult education commencement exercises he received special honors.

Now, “I feel complete in some way,” he said.

Mestre Efraim reminds us all not only of the importance of education, but of not giving up on your dreams and remembering that age is just a number.