Fabio Cosmo da Cunha, known in the capoeira world as “Mestre Lobinho” began training in 1998 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Lobinho has been teaching in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area of Michigan for 8 years. Lobinho has taught kids programs from ages 2 to 18, adults, and specializes in persons with disabilities. 

As a young boy, he was a student of a non-profit in Brazil to help under privileged kids in the community. Coordinated by his teacher and under his guidance, Lobinho had the opportunity to train and participate in many capoeira events around the world and is well known across the globe.

By the time Lobinho was 16, he was already teaching classes to other adults. When he was 18, he was working in local preschools teaching capoeira full time in Brazil. 

Lobinho has extensive knowledge of capoeira and is a wonderful teacher for persons of all ages.

Jessica Cunha, co-founded the Brazilian Michigan Cultural Center in 2015. Since then, she has been an important part of our group to help market, design, and organize our group. Jessica has been training Capoeira since 2009 and loves to assist in classes and teach music. She specializes in helping beginners start their journies within the space of Capoeira. She also can assist neurodivergent kids and adults to understand the movements and music in class. Please reach out to her if you need any help signing up for classes, payment, or any other questions!

Livio Berto da Silva also known as Instructor Livio, was born in Minas Gerais, Brazil in 1977 in Diamantina and raised in Belo Horizonte, starting to practice Capoeira initially with Graduado Caveira (Mestre Dunga’s Student) in his neighborhood in 1993 (16 years old) and after couple months, he was taken to start training with Mestre Dunga where he gained the larger part of his training.

In 2005 Livio got a job opportunity in Bahia State where is capoeira founders Mestre Pastinha, and Mestre Bimba are from. After 11 years, Livio felt the amazing capoeira environment and energy with old great masters that lived theirs lives with these founders and founder’s students, and many other great capoeristas.

In 2016, with his family, Livio moved to the USA for a new job. He choose to live in Ann Arbor, where he already knew that capoeira existed there. Livio met Mestre Lobinho, and appreciated the connection he has with capoeira, and it reminded him of the magic moments of the start of his journey at Dunga’s Center.

Today, Livio is very proud to be part of the Brazilian Michigan Cultural Center, and that the principles of Mestre Lobinho is linked to family, and a strong sense of community.

Paty Lorena Solórzano "Bailarina" born in Morelia, México, is a choreographer, dancer and teacher specializing in ballet, contemporary dance and improvisation. She holds a BFA in Modern Dance from Texas Christian University and an MFA in Dance Choreography and Performance from the University of Michigan. A lover of all types of dance and movement, she is a practitioner of yoga, pilates, latin social dances, and capoeira.

 She began teaching dance to young children at age 16, and taught ballet, jazz, tap, modern, conditioning for dancers, and basic gymnastics in private dance studios for 8 years. Paty has been teaching dance in higher education for 5 years, the past 3.5 as Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of the Americas in Puebla, México. She is a member of the National Dance Education Organization.

 Her capoeira journey began in 2016 with Mestre Lobinho CDO in Ann Arbor, MI where she found a beautiful community that has widened her perspective as mover and teacher. She is honored to be a part of the Brazilian Michigan Cultural Center teaching Strength in Flexibility classes for capoeristas. 

Chanise “Sossegada” Love was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her martial arts career began in 2001, where she started to study Tang Soo Do. At the age of fourteen, she received her 1st degree blackbelt and began teaching both teen and adult classes in her dojang. Upon receiving her 2nd degree, she began teaching the black belt classes, while also beginning her Taekwondo study. Today, she holds a 4th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and a 1st degree black belt in Taekwondo.

Her Capoeira journey began in 2015, while finishing up her BS and BA degrees at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). She’d been trying to find a way to expand her martial arts repertoire/add something to her Tang Soo Do training, when a friend recommended her to join the GVSU Capoeira group: She was hooked the very first day; the music in combination with the movements created a unique space for dialogue she’s yet to have seen anywhere else. Sossegada trained with GVSU Capoeira all through graduate school (receiving her Master’s in Cell and Molecular Biology), until the group dissolved in 2020. Following the dissolvement, she joined the Brazilian Michigan Cultural Center, led by Mestre Lobinho (one of the Mestre’s who’d been guiding her capoeira growth since GVSU). She’s proud to be a part the Brazilian Michigan Cultural Center, where the community elicits a sense of family, strength and safety.

Last year, Sossegada was promoted to the degree of Monitora (a teacher-level cord) from Mestre Lobinho, and now teaches the weekly noon classes. She loves teaching and is honored to share her knowledge with the students, as she too, continues to grow.

Beriba (Julio Beltrán) was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador. There, he started learning Capoeira in 2008, while finishing his IR major in college. While he already had some previous experience with other martial arts and musical practices, his encounter with Capoeira was unique. The holistic nature of the art form captivated him, so his consistency in training and learning Capoeira and other Afro-Brazilian cultural expressions became part of his daily life. A few years later he started helping with the classes for adults and kids, and he was part of Capoeira and Brazilian percussion performances all over the country.

In 2020, Beriba came to the United States to complete his MA in Latin American Studies at Ohio University. While in Athens, OH, he started working on projects with Capoeira. In 2022 and 2023, He taught Capoeira and Maculelê at the American College Dance Association’s East Central Conference, at Ohio University. Beriba’s capstone project for his MA degree was an autobiographic and ethnography research, which explored notions of identity, resistance, and post-colonialism, in/through capoeira. He presented his research work around capoeira in conferences like the Ohio Latin Americanist Conference, and the Arts, Health, Wellness & Sustainable Development International Symposium at OU. He also put together a live performance of his research, presented at the Shirley Wimmer Dance Theater (School of Dance at Ohio University).

Recently, Beriba received the degree of Monitor (a teacher-level belt) from Mestre Lobinho, his Capoeira master, and the Capoeira group Capoeira Mangalot. Additionally, as the Outreach Coordinator for the Center for Latin American Studies at The Ohio State University, Beriba leads the “Capoeira in the Classroom” outreach project, through which he visits K-12 institutions across Columbus, Ohio, and in the future, other parts in the Midwest, and introduces capoeira to students from different backgrounds. He also teaches Capoeira classes at the Tuttle Park Community Center for kids and adults in Columbus, Ohio.

KIDS CLASSES

Capoeira is great for kids! It is active and acrobatic; it provides a fun challenging way to use movement with the body. Children of all ages learn Capoeira very quickly because of their natural agility. The fun friendly atmosphere develops confidence and self esteem. It is also great for developing coordination. Capoeira movements involve the entire body; they develop strength and increase flexibility. The Capoeira music motivates and creates an exciting learning atmosphere. Children learn to sing in Portuguese and play traditional Capoeira instruments. Even though our Zoom classes, our students make incredible progress. Check out our video below from some of the outdoor classes we had this summer!

TEENS CLASSES

Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, is an excellent activity for teens to participate in for several reasons. Here are some benefits that teens can get from doing capoeira:

1. Physical fitness: Capoeira is a high-energy activity that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and martial arts. It provides a full-body workout that can improve strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health.

2. Coordination: Capoeira involves quick movements and transitions between different positions, which can help teens develop better coordination and balance.

3. Socialization: Capoeira classes are typically done in groups, which can provide socialization opportunities for teens. They can make new friends, build teamwork skills, and develop a sense of community.

4. Self-confidence: Capoeira requires a lot of physical and mental discipline, which can help teens build self-confidence and self-esteem. They can learn to trust their bodies and abilities, which can translate into other areas of their lives.

5. Cultural awareness: Capoeira has deep roots in Brazilian culture and history. By participating in capoeira, teens can learn about another culture and gain a greater appreciation for diversity.

Overall, capoeira can be an excellent activity for teens, providing physical, mental, and social benefits that can last a lifetime.

ADULT CLASSES

Capoeira is a great way to stay active and creative at home. It will give your body physical strength, flexibility and empower you to be creative. We have heard many people say that Capoeira is one of the best things that happened in their life. Capoeira provides cardiovascular strength, and flexibility training, all of which are essential for overall health. When training capoeira you will use muscle groups that you may never have trained before so after training for the first time you can expect to be sore.

Capoeira can also provide the ever so important role of community in one’s life. We train and learn together. Even through Zoom, it’s easy to feel connected to the other students.