Forrózeira

Forró

duende — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 07:46:00 GMT

My Scholarship entry - My Kind of Adventure

duende — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 10:50:58 GMT

In November 2010, I and my twin sister backpacked in Brazil for one month to discover the music and dance of this rhythm-rich country. On our return, I started to learn Forró and Samba in Munich and Bengü joined a Capoeira group in Istanbul. Ever since, I travel around the world for Forró festivals, and Bengü for Capoeira rodas. Wherever we travel to, we seek to connect to related communities and dance. Our love for Brazil and passion for its musical flavors are the ultimate reasons for us to apply for this scholarship.
Since childhood, our dream was to travel around the world and be the twin presenters of a travel program. We made our first amateur travel film for Brazil in Turkish which you see some parts in our video. I shot, and edited a promotional film for the Brazilian music duo I managed in Munich (http://goo.gl/BG7Ky). Our biggest dream is to make a documentary series of the world music festivals, Rio Carnival being on top of our list. Nothing can stop us when we travel together. We are up for any kind of adventure together and we love meeting new people. We both speak many languages including Portuguese which we were able to fluently communicate within 15 days of travel.

A Homage to Forró

duende — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:26:00 GMT

When I hit the road for Brazil to unearth the various musical styles of this music-rich land I was already acquainted with a few musical styles such as Samba, Bossa Nova, Lambada, Capoeira and Xote. However, I knew the music of Brazil is as diverse and multicultural as its population and I had just scratched the surface of the rich world of Brazilian music. Thirsty to encounter as much local music as possible in a one month period, I conducted extensive research and took advice from local friends. Bahia stood out as the best place to find an extensive variety of music and dance forms, thanks to it being a cultural hub of African, European and Indigenous roots. Among all music and dance nights in Bahia, one particular beach party in Itacaré marks a milestone in my life where I found my reason for existence in this world; a titillating dance called Forró (pronounced “Fo-ho”).

Although my passion for Forró was born in this beautiful town of Itacaré, it is not the place where Forró was actually born. Forró emerged as a popular local festival in the state of Pernambuco, in northeast Brazil. It also refers to the dance practiced at these parties previously known as arrasta-pé. Forró is influenced by both various regional musical rhythms, such as baião and xaxado as well as European dances like quadrilha and xote, imported by the Portuguese.

The lead singer and accordionist of the San Francisco based Forró band Forró Brazuca goes by the name of Francelino. Hailing from Pernambuco, he grew up in the culture of Forró. According to him, the name Forró actually refers to the English saying ‘For All’, but mis-pronounced in Portuguese. ‘For all’ was the name of a dance saloon opened in the city of Rio Grande Do Norte to attract the wealthy North Americans working at the local U.S. military base during the Second World War. It was named ‘For all’ to imply that everyone was invited to come partake in local festivities. Other sources, likewise relate the story to British engineers who came to Pernambuco to build Great Western Railway. But actually, the word Forró existed in the music history since 1937 as a recording of "Forró na roça", a composition of Manuel Queirós e Xerém.

Although its exact origin has been lost to time, Forró without a doubt owes its national recognition to Luiz Gonzaga. Born to a family of farmers in Pernambuco, Gonzaga was enchanted by the stories of Lampiao, a notorious bandit and accordion player, a Robin Hood figure in Brazilian folk culture, who stole from the rich to help the poor. Following his admiration of Lampiao, Gonzaga carried a Lampiao style leather hat which became his trademark through the years.

Forró has become a symbol of Festa Junina, aka festa de São João in the northeast cities where most of the cities host big festivals and all-night long parties every night year-round. In the 90s, Forró found its new form, Forró Universitario in São Paulo. Enriched with contemporary instruments like electric guitar, bass and drums Forró found a wider audience in the youth of Brazil’s largest city. This style does differ significantly both musically and in the style of dance from the original forms of Forró.

On my return to Munich from Brazil, the first thing I did was to look up for an opportunity to dance Forró. I was astounded to find out how Forró-rich Europe is. A huge network of Forrózeiros flows from one festival to another in London, Paris, and Lisbon, to name a few. These festivals offer an opportunity for Forró fans of Europe to improve their dancing skills while bringing various Brazilian Forró bands and dance teachers to Europe. This is living proof of how music and dance move from one culture to another and music genres like Forró are formed. ‘Forró tourism’ is becoming a growing form of travel in Europe for those who have fallen in love with Forró as I have.

My Scholarship entry - A local encounter that changed my life

duende — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:30:00 GMT

On the sands of Praia da Concha, one of the local beaches in Itacare, the sun began to set after a day of shining on surfers and sun-bathers, casting a golden hue upon the gathering beach party. When the musicians began to play, the tropical drinks summoned the audience to the dance floor. Erasmo, a local guide whom I had met only two days prior whilst dancing at another local bar ‘Mar e Mel’, was this time behind the bar mixing ambrosial drinks named ‘Caipirinha’. Although watching him juggling tropical fruits and the Cachaça bottle was captivating, I had wished he wasn’t working and would come dance with me to the swinging Forró tunes. The accordion was playing a soothing melody, and the triangle was ringing to the beat accompanied by rhythmic Zabumba drum.
Feeling marooned at the party, my Caipirinha drink in hand, I left the bar towards the dance floor in order to make myself available for a dance. It didn’t take long before a stout man approached, presenting his hand and leading me to the dance floor. I had remembered him playing the guitar the night before at ‘Mar e Mel’ and the rumor was that he was the winner of the annual Forró dance competition. While he was lighting up the dance floor the previous night, all the girls at the bar were casting their covetous eyes on his dance partner. He was now dressed solely in white Capoeira pants, and he was showing off his toned muscles. Thrilled by the offer for a dance, I nodded and he swept me away from the crowd towards the sandy beach. We were moving harmoniously with the beat and soft melody; our feet were half on the sand, half in the ocean which was washing over our legs, under the sunset’s warm glow. I felt my heartbeat synchronize with the rhythm of the Zabumba. When the beat sped up, he began swinging me to his side and we began slowly and sensually meshing with one another. Right there at that moment, I was feeling like the protagonist from the movie ‘Dirty Dancing: Bahian Nights’.