Dr. Fabio Da Cunha

Biography

Fabio Cosmo da Cunha, known as Mestre Lobinho, began his journey in Capoeira in 1998 in São Paulo, Brazil, at the age of eight. He was introduced to this art form by his teacher Mestre Coruja through a social program run by a non-profit organization aimed at supporting underprivileged youth in São Paulo. In 2019, Lobinho was recognized as a Capoeira master (Mestre) within his community. His life journey reflects the powerful opportunities and unique benefits that the Afro-Brazilian art form provides to a diverse range of populations. Dedicated to sharing Capoeira, Lobinho began teaching at the age of 16, assisting classes for children and adults. By 18, he was fully dedicated to Capoeira, developing his own programs in preschools and community institutions. Over the years, he has worked with a wide range of students, from toddlers to young teenagers, adults, and elders, along with individuals with disabilities, demonstrating his commitment to making Capoeira accessible to people from all backgrounds. With twenty-five years of teaching experience, he has become an ambassador of Capoeira and its related Afro-Brazilian cultural traditions. For the past ten years, Mestre Lobinho has shared his expertise and playful methodology with the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti communities in Michigan, bringing his work into K–12 schools, libraries, and community centers in Michigan and Ohio. He is committed to presenting Capoeira as a career philosophy, providing opportunities for cultural education and community building in projects in the United States and Brazil. In 2023, Lobinho joined the University of Michigan’s Department of Dance as a lecturer, introducing dance students to the Capoeira form as an embodied knowledge for creative exploration, enhancing their educational and professional paths.

Research Interests