Mestre Elias is the founder of this branch of Grupo Senzala, the Senzala Capoeira Group of Teresopolis. He heads this Grupo Senzala and has devoted much of his time in the teaching of this art. He became a Mestre in 1990 and has helped spread capoeira to England, France and Germany and now Malaysia and the Philippines, through his students. Today, he travels all around the world to introduce the art of capoeira,as well as to encourage capoeira students to continue expressing their passion and joy in capoeira.