Ross Burns

Ross Burns is a professional musician, capoeira player, circus performer and teacher based in Nova Scotia. Studying the guitar since a young age and training the Afro-Brazilian dance/martial art form capoeira seriously since 2003, Ross has become a familiar face on Canadian stages as a guitarist, percussionist, improvisor, acrobat and front man. He is a four-time ECMA and six-time MNS award winner (New Hermitage, Gypsophilia); he has led Mestre Azeitona’s Capoeira Group Dendê - Halifax since 2007; he is a core member of contemporary circus company Breaking Circus; and is a faculty member and dedicated acolyte of Jerry Granelli’s Creative Music Workshop.

His résumé ranges widely across different musical territories - jazz, rhythm & blues, Brazilian, Jamaican, modern art music and free improvisation. He has collaborated with the likes of Aquakultre, Symphony Nova Scotia, Gina Burgess, Erin Costelo, Cyndi Cain and many others. As part of Breaking Circus he is a co-creator and a performer (Breaking Valentines, 2020; Reflection, 2021; Sky Whisperers, 2022; Cache of Hornets, 2022; Diffraction, 2022) and has worked with elite coaches in multiple disciplines: Yves Dagenais (clowning), Samuel Roy (juggling), Xander Taylor (trapeze) and William Bonnet (acrobatics).

He is a busy teacher of guitar, capoeira and improvisation and lives by the sea with his wife, dog and two cats.

Photo Credit: Nick Wilkinson