Meet the Bands
Get to know the bands — all the way from Brazil, they’re here to make us dance non-stop this weekend!
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Forrofiá is a Forró Pé de Serra band from Espírito Santo formed in 2018. It con- sists of 4 members: Tomás (vocals and cavaco), Timba (accordion), Joabe (za- bumba), and Léo Cabelinho (triangle). They have already competed for the prize at the Itaúnas National Forró Festival - ES (FENFIT 2019).
Forrofiá brings authentic Forró Pé de Ser- ra wherever they go. They offer a show featuring interpretations and classics of traditional Forró, as well as their original songs.
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With 22 years on the road, Trio Dona Zefa is one of the greatest traditional forró groups. In addition to touring all over Brazil and internationally. Among their collaborations are big names like Dominguinhos, Genival Lacerda, and Anastácia.
Murillo's unmistakable zabumba, Danilo's unique voice and compositions, and Milla's always moving accordion — it's hard to say what impresses most about the trio. The truth is that all of this together on stage creates magical moments, marked by respect and love for traditional forró and its beautiful cultural diversity.
That is Trio Dona Zefa!
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Born in April 2006, Raizes do Sertão was founded by two brothers inspired by their nights at forró clubs in Brasília. With forró as their foundation, the band blends a wide range of influences – from rock to maracatu, reggae to xote, blues to baião – creating a sound that’s both authentic and refreshingly unique.
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Accordionist from Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, Carol Benigno is currently based in Portugal and has performed at festivals across Europe, including in Spain, Germany, and Ireland. Her show blends traditional Forró with original songs from her debut album Lampejo. In Brazil, she collaborated with renowned artists like Quinteto Violado, Chico César, Trio Nordestino, and Lucy Alves, and was part of the trio Maria Sem Vergonha and the Balaio Nordeste Accordion Orchestra. Carol holds a Master’s in Music Education, is pursuing a PhD in Ethnomusicology in Portugal, and teaches accordion at the Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Norte.
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Guilhermino Ramos, known as O Cantador de Coco, is a singer and songwriter from Bahia who has represented the strength of forró music in Europe for the past 16 years. Founder of the band Forrobamba and influenced by Luiz Gonzaga and Jackson do Pandeiro, Guilhermino blends tradition and originality in his striking compositions. In 2025, his first solo EP, O Cantador de Coco, will be released on digital platforms.
Meet the Teachers
Say hello to the amazing teachers leading our packed 3-day workshop marathon — directly from Brazil and all over Europe and ready to share their passion and energy!
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Pia began her forró journey in Europe, while PC fell in love with the style in the capital of Bahia. It was there that their paths crossed, marking the start of a partnership that would change their lives... Since 2021, they’ve been sharing their passion for dance through the Varando Roots projectin Salvador, offering relaxed and inclusive classes. They’ve travelled with their workshops across Brazil, Chile, the US and Europe, always aiming to help students discover their own style and personality in dance.
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With a Bachelor’s degree in Dance and a post-grad in Partner Dances, Sheila brings over a decade of experience training dancers and professionals across Brazil and Europe. Since 2010, she has been exploring new dynamics in partner dancing – encouraging a more active role for the follower and creating a fluid, communicative connection between dancers. In 2018, she launched Projeto Mulher que Dança, now one of the largest communities dedicated to women in partner dancing.
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Bea discovered her passion for forró in 2019 and quickly dove into intensive training at three renowned schools: Forró Por Aí, Forró do Rio and Pé Descalço. Thanks to her dedication, she soon mastered both Forró Universitário and Roots styles. Today, she shares her best tips and techniques in workshops across Brazil, classes in Juiz de Fora (Minas Gerais) and on her fast-growing social media channels.
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Dani took his first forró class in his hometown, Salvador da Bahia, in 2011 – the official start of his dance journey. Ten years later, he founded @forrocomdende in Stuttgart, Germany, to share his passion for the culture of Northeast Brazil.
As both a dancer and teacher, he keeps developing his skills with a special focus on strong technical foundations, musicality, comfort, creativity – and plenty of dendê!
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Mbegne Kassé, alias Ben-j, has been fascinated by hip hop culture since his childhood in Senegal and began training in breaking dance around 2000. Over time, he expanded into other styles such as hip hop, house, locking and popping, occasionally delving into the world of dance theater. Since 2007, he has increasingly focused on traditional West African dances and, among other things, teaches an African (Afro) House course in Berlin.
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Originally from Valencia, Spain, Laura fell in love with forró in her hometown back in 2018. Not long after, she moved to Lisbon for a month to learn Portuguese, eager to understand the songs she danced to. There, she discovered @espacobaiao and began attending forró classes regularly. Today, she teaches both Universitário and Roots styles at the same school. In 2024, she competed in the dance tournament at Matrizes Festival in Itaúnas with Matheus Antunes, and that same year won first place in the Jack & Jill competition at Léman Festival in Geneva, dancing with Gustavo de Morais.
In her classes, Laura focuses strongly on technique and encourages her students to be creative, musical, and to approach dance in a more feminist and democratic way.
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Tiago discovered forró in 2009 and has been teaching since 2013. Joana, with a background in ballet, jazz, and Lindy Hop, joined him in 2015. Together, they founded @doispracaporto, a forró school in Porto, known for its well-structured classes and clear methodology.
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Spinning since 2004, Paulinho is one of the pioneers and key promoters of forró vinyl DJ culture. More than just a DJ, he’s a dedicated researcher and collector with a deep passion for the music and traditions of Northeast Brazil.
With his rare records and authentic grooves, he’s brought the magic of forró to dance floors across Brazil and beyond – and now to Miudinho Festival in Berlin!
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DJ PC is a Forró DJ from northeastern Brazil, known for blending brega and groove with style and energy. A master of both vinyl and digital formats, he curates sets full of exclusive, personality-filled tracks. He has performed at major events across Brazil, including Festival Matrizes and Padaria in Itaúnas, and recently completed a successful European tour. Celebrated for his vibrant performances and deep connection with the crowd, DJ PC delivers unforgettable sets that make people dance and fall in love with Forró all over again.
Meet the DJS
Get ready to vibe to the beats—here’s the incredible DJ lineup set to ignite the dance floor over the whole weekend
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DJ Chinedu is joining us all the way from London. He discovered forró in January 2013, when his capoeira teacher took him to a party – and he’s been hooked ever since. With no background in partner dancing, it was the music, the community and the positive energy that drew him in. Today, Chinedu is not only a DJ, but also a forró teacher and the founder of @forrofoundations in London, established in 2016.
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Born and raised in São Vicente, on the coast of São Paulo, he began playing Forró around 2004 and formed his first band, Forró Gambiarra, in 2005. In 2018 he started working as a researcher and DJ, becoming a resident at Bujas Garagem Bar, one of the region’s key Forró projects. He has performed at major festivals and events across São Paulo and beyond, including Forró do Barba, Baile dos Ratos, Forró DiQuintal, and Itaúnas Summer Festival. Now based in Espírito Santo, he works as a DJ, plays triangle in the band Forrofía, and leads the project Oficina Pé de Serra.