Brazilian Dances: The Rhythm Is in the Blood

In Brazil, they say that babies can dance samba even before they know how to walk. Passion and rhythm are simply in the blood of Brazilians. See for yourself on a Saturday afternoon during your vacation in Brazil . Typically, the national dish, feijoada - a hearty stew of beans and meat - , is served at every bar while a samba group plays and guests swing to the beat in Rio.

Brazilian society is multicultural. Indigenous nations, enslaved peoples from Africa and European immigrants (mainly Portuguese) have all contributed to the country’s cultural heritage. This fact is also reflected in the music and dances of Brazil. As different as they may seem, Brazilian dances have a lot in common, such as, for example, the stirring rhythm and the passionate devotion of the dancers. We will take a closer look at regional differences and special dances of Brazil.

The Northeast of Brazil is home to many native dances. At the front line is frevo, from Pernambuco. This fast instrumental marching music dates back to 1910 and is played by live bands during the street parades of Carnival. The dance itself is based on capoeira, which we will discuss in more detail later. Frevo dancers juggle, perform wild air jumps, turns and like to improvise. Since 2012 this Brazilian dance has been part of the immaterial world cultural heritage of UNESCO.
Samba de roda (samba in a circle) is also based on capoeira and originated in Bahia in the 19th century. It is danced in a circle, accompanied by instrumental music, singing and clapping.
Also native to Pernambuco is maracatu, a dance that was probably introduced to Brazil by the Portuguese in the 17th century. The dancers and musicians perform a small play with precise choreography and costumes. Scenes from the royal court of Portugal are presented. Nowadays, maracatu is mainly danced during Carnival in Recife.
Pau-de-bandeira (wooden flag) is a Brazilian dance in honor of Santo Antônio, to whom a holiday is dedicated in the Northeast. The following spectacle takes place: a tree trunk is carried through the city by dancing men, and women, who want to marry, touch the wood to receive the blessing of the saint.
Maneiro-Pau (cool wood) is a dance that can be found particularly in the state of Ceará. Here, actors dance in a circle with a piece of wood in their hands and hit it on the floor to set the rhythm. As the dance progresses, some dancers duel while the others continue to tap the floor with their wood.

Most dances in the North of Brazil have indigenous roots. Carimbo, from the state of Pará, would be such an example - while also uniting Portuguese and African influences. In Tupi, the language of the indigenous people, the name means "drum made from a tree trunk." So this instrument is indeed the one that determines the sound. The men wear tight-fitting shirts and shorts, while the women wear patterned blouses and long hoop skirts. A man approaches a woman while clapping his hands, and couples dance in rows. The women throw scarves on the floor, which the men pick up as a form of homage.
Ciranda do Norte is a folklore dance with Spanish and Portuguese roots. Here, the dancers dance in a circle and in pictorial movements to verses. It is a simple Brazilian dance style with fixed rhythms and movements, which is on display annually at the June festivals (festas juninas).
The largest folklore festival in Brazil is Bumba meu Boi in the state of Amazonas. It's the reproduction of a legend. The dancers re-enact the story of an ox, that is killed and then brought back to life.

The Southeast is characterized by two dance styles: batuque and folia de reis.
The former is of African origin. This rhythmic percussion dance of the enslaved is one of the oldest dances in Brazil and was forbidden during the colonial period. Later it was danced at weddings, holidays and festivals. Batuque is especially popular in some cities in the state of São Paulo. There, you can see the dancers in public places and at festivals.
Folia de reis (Gaudi of the kings) is a Catholic custom from ancient Europe, which is now an integral part of Brazilian folklore. Between the 1st and the 6th of January, the three kings are celebrated. Groups of musicians and dancers go from house to house to announce the arrival of the Messiah. They slip into different roles, accompanied by guitar and accordion.

In contrast to the rest of the country, culture in the South of Brazil was less influenced by African customs, which also applies to the dances of the region. Typical dances are chimarrita and fandango.
Chimarrita was brought to Brazil in the 18th century by Portuguese colonists from the island of Madeira. It's a slow dance, that begins in a row formation. Later, the dancers form circles. All movements are choreographed and include waltz steps, hand-clapping and tap dance.
Fandango reached the South of Brazil around 1750, also as a result of settlers arriving from Portugal. In this sensual round dance, participants repeatedly move towards their partners and move away from each other without touching. The aim is to attract the attention of the other, for which the men are constantly tap-dancing. Characteristics of waltzes and European balls also belong to fandango.

It was through enslaved individuals of African descent that samba reached Brazil. It originated as percussion music with rhythmic foot stomping that only took place in their quarters. Samba has since rested on the top of all Brazilian dances, especially in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Maranhão. Samba enredo (a story-telling samba) is the musical basis of the dance parades in Rio’s Sambadrome during Carnival. Samba de roda is a part of everyday life in Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. Musicians and dancers form a circle in which they freely play their instruments and dance.
Just like samba, capoeira is also an integral piece of modern Brazilian society. This artistic martial art form also originates from the times of slavery and bears witness to Brazil's Afro-Brazilian heritage. Since fighting was forbidden among the enslaved, they disguised their fitness exercises as dance and built artistic elements and accompanying music into the movement sequences. Dancing turns and jumps, which show a high level of body control, are the essence of Capoeira.

During your journey in Brazil, get out on the dance floor and discover the Brazilian rhythm in your blood!

Sources: www.blog.bemglo.com, www.wikipedia.org