Capoeira Mandinga & Capoeira Institute Southwest

Capoeira Mandinga Tucson and 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. She has practiced Afro-Brazilian arts for over 36 years, training with Brazilian capoeira masters both in the US and during multiple travels to Brazil. In 1996, after 10 years of capoeira experience, she began teaching capoeira and Afro-Brazilian arts in Tucson and created grupo Capoeira Mandinga Tucson. Today, she the only master of Capoeira and Afro-Brazilian arts in the state of Arizona.

The experience of Afro-Brazilian arts touches the hearts and brings together diverse people. Our 2022 performance group is comprised of students, ages 6 through over 50 years, from a broad spectrum of Tucson and surrounding area schools and communities, who are joined through our love of Afro-Brazilian arts. Through our classes and performances of Afro-Brazilian arts, we look forward to continuing to build and expand cross-cultural connections between youth and families from diverse backgrounds.