To be able to sit around with your friends in the evening, with a cool breeze coming in off the water .. dance to the music of a hot Brazilian band ..ah, que vida! Discos and live traditional bands abound along the Praia dos Artists in Natal and Ponta Negra.
Natal, Rio Grande do Norte
Hugo Bellard and Natasha invite you to check out Brazilian Music
Nowadays you'll find chic urbanites dancing the forroá in clubs throughout Brazil, but it is originally a creation of the northeast backcountry, a dance you're sure to experience in its purest form if you spend a weekend in one of the fishing towns or attend the Brazilian rodeo - vaquejada.
The forroá depans a series of quick shuffling steps, not unlike the cajun two-step in southern Louisiana. The sounds of 40 or 50 pairs of sandals scraping in time over the floor adds considerably to the music. The tunes themselves are fast and rambunctious, sounding a great deal like Mexican music. Partners cling to each other tightly in this deceptively simple dance.
The setting for a good forrozinho can often be as intriguing as the music and dancing.
The name forroá reportedly originated when English bosses held dances 'for all' their Brazilian and English employees.
Most backcountry forroá occur on weekends, especially during religious and other holidays, and at events such as the vaquejada. (Brazilian Rodeo)
The backcountry of the northeast also spawned the unique singers know as repentistas. Accompanied simply by guitar, tambourine or triangle, the repentista actually makes up lyrics as he goes, singing in a fast, typicall harsh monotone. Poverty, politics, drought and the suffering on the nordestinos are common themes, buy sly good humour plays a big role as well; repentistas frequently poke good-natured fun at members of the audience, and a foriegner is always fair game. This isn't dancing music.
Copyright © Andetur Brasil Ltda.
December 8, 2005
