learn and practice at the
Forró LAB
with Detetive & Katya
What content can I expect at the Forró Lab?
A JOURNEY INTO THE MUSIC
Enjoying the music is essential for a joyful dance – and that’s why it is the cornerstone of our classes. Learn to distinguish and feel Xote, Arrastapé, Baião and Forró. Delve into these rhythms, discover and create a variety of basic steps to adapt our dance to their particular vibes. Listen closely to selected songs and pay attention to the lyrics and musical characteristics. We might also sneak a peek into Côco, Xaxado, Maracatu and Samba – all to get a broader perspective of Forró culture and make your dance more playful.
CRAFT THE BASICS
We will get to understand and practice basic concepts of Forró: being aware of your body and posture, taking control of your moves. Connecting with your dance partner in closed embrace, but also creating space and dancing independently. We will become familiar with important aspects of leading and following, transition between these roles and enjoy both. Get ready for a simple, yet heartfelt dance experience!
EXPLORE BOTH UNIVERSITÁRIO AND ROOTS STYLE MOVEMENTS
We will not only navigate through the key Forró Universitário repertoire, from basic closed and open turns all the way up to more complex 5-step moves – but also dive into the basics of Forró Roots, discovering the essentials of body leading through typical movements such as Caminhadas, free turns or Travas. The focus will be on establishing the common basic patterns of both styles and their particular movements so we can assimilate and create all kinds of variations and elegant transitions.
CONNECTING SIMPLE KNOWLEDGE WITH CREATIVITY
Ultimately, our goal is to empower you not only to grasp the moves but also to feel confident in creating your own style and expressing yourselves on the dance floor. That’s why we focus on simplicity: understanding the basic concepts, then practicing and building on them using targeted inputs, creativity challenges and peer exchange in the group. This works on any level, so the classes are suited for beginners just as well as for advanced dancers.
The forró lab roadmap
WHAT CONCEPTUAL BENEFITS DO I GET FROM THE CLASSES?
spiraling progression: acquire and create new skills on any level while revisiting and building on foundational concepts in a continuous cycle of improvement and refinement.
individual guidance: gain insights and benefit from personalized coaching by experienced Forró dancers.
lots of practice: dance, experiment, share – and repeat.
social learning: take part in a friendly, curious group for a prolific and fun learning experience.
OTHER QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS WE OFTEN HEAR
What is the level of the classes?
Our classes are open level, meaning that we welcome people with any dance experience. The course content is built on
a) the foundations of Forró music, body movement and partner dance dynamics
b) your previous knowledge & skills and your particular way of moving and dancing.
We will guide & challenge you according to these references, so you can continuously keep enhancing and improving your dance.
Can I come even if I don’t have any experience in dancing?
Yes! We will keep revisiting & practising the basics such as posture, embrace, music hearing and moving together in a dance, which we believe are the core of any couple dance. We do recommend a crash course or a private lesson before joining the group classes though. Feel free to get in touch with us for that!
Can I join without a partner?
Of course. It is very common in the Forró community not to have fixed partners and to dance with who you like and feel comfortable with. Apart from switching partners during the classes, we also advocate for learning both leader and follower roles and switching them too. It provides a lot of insights about how we dance and what’s important for us and our dance partner. So feel free to come as you are!
I would like to join the classes, but I am very shy in front of the others.
We understand your discomfort and we always strive to create a warm, inclusive and relaxing atmosphere where you can express yourself as much or as little as you wish, whatever nurtures you feeling safe and comfortable. Extrovert or introvert – Forró is all about being yourself.
I like music but I have two left feet.
Forró is very casual and easy to start dancing, using simple walking steps to the rhythm. We will guide you through it at a comfortable pace so you can discover what works for you and what doesn’t and build up your dance confidence, literally, step by step.
I like dancing but I am not good at hearing the rhythm.
Truth is that we live with the rhythm around us without noticing. Think of a heart beat, how you walk, talk or wash your hands – you already have rhythm within you. We will give you tools to better notice the beats of the music (and also its other characteristics) and how to move to them.
Let's explore the world of Forró together - every step tells your story!
Are you interested in joining us? Just go ahead and register right now for all your available dates (please mind the conditions for payments & discounts!) using the button below. You’re free to choose the price for your first taster class!