Our mission is to support youth through the art of Capoeira

A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

The Brazilian Michigan Cultural Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to cultural education, community building, and improving the lives of children and families in underserved communities through the art of Capoeira. With projects in both the United States and Brazil, we create safe learning environments where youth and adults can develop physically, emotionally, and socially.

You can help us achieve our mission!

Our impact

Through Capoeira, participants gain:

• Physical and emotional strength to overcome challenges.

• Creativity and self-expression through dance, music, and martial arts.

• Connection to culture and history, fostering a healthy sense of pride]]] and identity.

• Positive relationships and community, developing lasting friendships and role models.

We meet our community’s need for safe, inclusive, and accessible spaces by offering free, year-round programs in underserved neighborhoods. Our programming ranges from local classes to international cultural exchanges, teaching residencies, festivals, and performances—helping participants grow as healthy, confident, and socially engaged members of society.

How we use your support

Your tax-deductible donation directly funds:

• Memberships and uniforms for at-risk youth.

• Scholarships for low-income students.

• Musical instruments and teaching equipment to sustain authentic practice.

• Travel support for visiting teachers (airfare and fees).

Brazilian Michigan Cultural Center (BMCC)

Founded in 2025, BMCC promotes the growth of the Afro-Brazilian martial art of Capoeira—a dynamic blend of movement, music, history, and philosophy—specifically within high-need communities. We provide instruction, workshops, trainings, community programs, performances, and scholarships to enrich the cultural, physical, and mental well-being of our participants.

Why Capoeira?

Capoeira is more than an art—it is a holistic practice that unites body, mind, and spirit. By combining Brazilian dance, music, and culture with martial arts, Capoeira gives practitioners a positive outlet for creativity, health, and personal growth.

At BMCC, we believe that when children and families thrive, communities thrive.

Fabio Cosmo da Cunha, known as Mestre Lobinho, began Capoeira in 1998 in São Paulo, Brazil. At the age of eight, he was introduced to the art form by his teacher Mestre Coruja, through a social program run by a non-profit organization aimed at supporting underprivileged youth in the local part of São Paulo. In 2019, Lobinho was recognized as a Capoeira master (Mestre) by his teacher and community. His life journey in Capoeira reflects the powerful opportunities and unique benefits that this Afro-Brazilian art form can provide to a range of populations. Believing deeply in Capoeira as both a career and a way of life, Lobinho has devoted himself to sharing it.

Lobinho began teaching at just 16, assisting with classes for both children and adults. By the age of 18, he had fully dedicated himself to Capoeira, developing his own programs in preschools and community institutions. Over the years, he has worked with a wide range of students – including toddlers as young as two, teenagers, adults, elders, and individuals with disabilities – with a commitment to making Capoeira accessible to people of all backgrounds. With over twenty five years of teaching experience, Lobinho has become an ambassador of Capoeira and related Afro-Brazilian cultural traditions sharing its roots.

For over ten years, Mestre Lobinho has shared his expertise and playful methodology in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti communities in Michigan. He believes Capoeira can be taught in a variety of settings and regularly brings his work into K–12 schools, libraries, and community centers across Michigan and Ohio. Today, through the Brazilian Michigan Cultural Center, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization, Lobinho is committed to present Capoeira as career and philosophy of life to kids and adults from underserved communities, with the opportunity to have access to cultural education and community building, through projects in both the United States and Brazil.

Considering the art form as not only as a lifelong vocation but also as a dynamic educational tool with relevance across all levels of learning, in 2023 Lobinho joined the University of Michigan’s Department of Dance as a lecturer, where he introduces dance students to Capoeira as a form of embodied knowledge and creative exploration, enhancing their educational and professional paths. He has also been invited to teach at institutions such as The Ohio State University and at major events like the American College Dance Association Regional Conference in 2023 and 2024, where students from across the country gather to engage with diverse movement practices. He has also been invited to teach and perform in cities across Brazil, the United States, and internationally in countries such as South Korea, Mexico, Canada, Bolivia, and France.

What We Do