Afro-Brazilian Martial Art/Dance/Music Demonstration
Capoeira Mandinga Tucson & Capoeira Institute Southwest

Capoeira Mandinga Tucson and 5013c nonprofit Capoeira Institute Southwest partner to bring traditional Afro-Brazilian capoeira, music, and dance to diverse Tucson and global communities. Anne Pollack (Mestra Luar do Sertão) is our group’s founder, director, and tireless leader. In 2026, she is celebrating practicing Afro-Brazilian arts for over 40 years. In 1996, she moved to Tucson, created the group Capoeira Mandinga Tucson, and has been teaching and performing Afro-Brazilian capoeira, dance, and music in Tucson and around the globe ever since. In 2013, nonprofit 501c3 Capoeira Institute Southwest was formed to offer the health and social benefits of Afro-Brazilian arts to diverse Arizona communities. In 2023, Mestra Luar was honored at a capoeira event in Milan, Italy and awarded the blue/white 3rd degree master level (of 4 levels). She is the highest level master of Capoeira and Afro-Brazilian arts in the state of Arizona.

Experiencing Afro-Brazilian arts touches hearts and brings together diverse people. Our performance group is comprised of students, ages 6 through over 50 years, from a broad spectrum of Tucson area schools and communities, who are joined through our love of Afro-Brazilian capoeira, music, and dance. Our ongoing Afro-Brazilian capoeira, music, and dance classes, performances, workshops, and events continue building and expanding mind/body strength and flexibility, and cross-cultural connections and communication between youth, families, and communities from diverse backgrounds.