GRES Paraíso was formed in December 2001 by Esteves da Silva, the Mestre da Bateria of Estácio da Sá (winning 10/10 points for them every year), and his brother Henrique da Silva, a Passista in Mangueira since 1990 and who has been part of Mangueira since he was a child.

Paraíso is a not-for-profit co-operative community organisation with close links to major Rio samba schools and led by artists who have grown up in the Rio de Janeiro carnival culture.

http://www.paraisosamba.co.uk/