STUDENT EXPERIENCES & TESTIMONIALS
“His approach to music and rhythm changed the way I dance forever.”
Lívia Silva
“The classes are fun, welcoming, and such a great way to meet people in NYC.”
Luíza Ribeiro
“He teaches us how to create new ‘music’ with our bodies.”
Angelica Vargas Prada
Forró New York brings together dancers from different countries, backgrounds, experience levels, and relationships with dance through classes, festivals, workshops, social dancing, and online learning.
Some students begin completely from zero. Others arrive from different partner dance backgrounds or look for deeper musicality, creativity, movement understanding, and technical development.
The experiences below reflect different dimensions of the project, including social dancing, rhythm, musicality, online learning, body awareness, partner connection, festivals, and community experience.
Many students eventually become long-term collaborators, volunteers, assistants, artists, and active members of the local forró scene.
→ Read more about the community ecosystem surrounding Forró New York
ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Experiences from dancers who participated in the Forró New York online learning ecosystem through independent practice, musicality training, solo development, guided courses, workshops, and virtual classes.
These testimonials reflect different aspects of online learning, including rhythm development, body awareness, creativity, movement understanding, musical interpretation, confidence building, and the relationship between solo practice and social dancing.
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"Forró NY is great, the community is so supportive, the dance is inclusive for all, I have been to their forró winter workshop in 2025 and had a great experience learned so much, also signed up for the beginner online class that helped a lot as now I am helping the forró community grow in Philly. The course breaks down the steps so you can learn the technique very well! Loved and looking forward to keep improving my forró skills with forró NY."
"Forró online has been the silver lining of the pandemics! Each class is filled with creativity, musicality and a lot of fun. Rafa is extremely innovative and attentive (and very organized!)."
Anne L. (Ottawa - Canada)
“Rafael's creativity and musicality classes are always pushing me out from the comfort zone in a positive way. I’ve learned that with any song, you can make it your own and experiment new things with your body if you’re up for it. And if your dance partner is up for it. There’s just limitless opportunities to express yourself through a song. Thanks, Rafa, for helping to build this foundation during the pandemic.”
Tuomas Ranta (San Francisco)
"Taking forró online has brought me so much joy for the past months. Not only have I loved the community we’re creating, I’m also recognizing the value of dancing alone! Practicing challenging moves, working on balance, and learning from a diversity of teachers have really helped grow my skills and confidence, preparing me for when we can get out there in person!"
Carey Dufey (New York)
"I didn’t know what to expect when I started taking online classes with Rafael. It was hard to imagine how to learn a couple’s dance virtually. I can tell it has been a beautiful experience. Rafael knows how to explain complex concepts in a simple way, and in every class he gives us elements to build new vocabulary in our dance. I think that because he is a musician, he understands the dance from the inside out. It feels like he is teaching us how to perform individual notes and, then it is to us to put them together and create new “music” with our bodies and feet.
Rafael makes the classes interactive and fun. We can always ask questions and get feedback. Thank you so much Rafael. I love your classes!"
Angelica Vargas Prada (San Franscisco)
"I really enjoy Rafa's classes because he teaches different techniques and different steps in a way that is very easy to understand. And because of his background as a musician, he is great at teaching musicality and how to express ourselves with our bodies. I fully recommend this class, 100%!"
Elaine Simon (Ottawa - Canada)
"Coming back to dance after stopping for the first many months of the pandemic felt like a new discovery. It is an entirely separate feeling to dance alone--to deeply understand basic concepts and learn the way you move and express yourself without the influence of others. It's been a gift. And, it's at the core of dancing forró. Until the day we can all dance together in community, I'll be here in my living room dancing with myself."
Mariana Pugliese (New York)
IN-PERSON CLASSES, EVENTS & COMMUNITY
Experiences from dancers who participated in weekly classes, workshops, festivals, social dances, and community activities connected to Forró New York in New York City and beyond.
These testimonials reflect the social, cultural, and human dimensions of the project, including learning environments, partner dancing, musical connection, friendships, festivals, international exchange, and the experience of participating in the forró community.
"I have been taking forró (pronounced kinda like fo-hah) classes here for 6 months. I didn't have any dance experience before. The classes are held in English, with an excellent instructor, Rafael, from Brazil, so they're perfect for Brazilians and non-Brazilians alike! I started out just doing the all-levels class, and after about two months I felt comfortable enough to stick around for the more intermediate class. I love forró because the community is so friendly and welcoming, no matter what your skill level is. In just 6 months I have made some of my closest friends. Forró is fun, the music is fun, the classes are fun, everything is fun, just come and try it!"
Molly Chicy
"I’ve been taking dancing classes my whole life and nothing compares to what I’ve been learning with Rafael. I believe that because he’s a composer and a conductor and his approach to music and rhythm is completely different to what is out there and it has changed the way I dance forever. Not only the way I dance forró, but everything. It changed my perspective. On top of the an amazing classes, the environment is fun, people are awesome. You learn a skill at the same time you make friends for life. Highly recommended!"
Lívia Silva
"Forró is so much fun! From day 1 I was greeted with a friendly, fun community and soon was hooked.
Rafael is an A++ instructor. He breaks things down so beginners can catch on easily plus gives more advanced students fun tricks to work with so everyone gets a lot out of every class, and even personalized tips. Then often after class we all go out dancing!
I’ve met some of a lot of cool people dancing forró and have had a lot of fun. Seriously highly recommended for anyone to try!"
Genevieve Marie Aidala
"The Forro New York community is really nice! The teacher, Rafael, has a deep background in music and has a really fun and engaging method. His demos and exercises are really good, and he always has nice observations o how to improve our form and technique. The students are fun, and there are a few places nearby to go dance Forró after class!"
Marcelo Ramires
"I've tried several dances and forro is the best one. It is relaxed and casual but at the same time dynamic and joyful. The forro community is super welcoming and inclusive. The classes are accessible to everyone and Rafa is a great instructor, he knows how to take the best out of students and help them make progress. I'd definitely recommend anyone to check out these classes."
"I am a casino (Cuban salsa) dancer. In my first lesson with Rafael, he was quickly able to pinpoint and clarify how I needed to adjust my posture, frame, and tension to successfully dance forró. He is masterful at custom-tailoring the lesson each time to help improve my weaknesses while adeptly tapping into and acknowledging my strengths. Even though he himself is not a salsero, he was able to identify the similarities and differences between casino and forro... So not only do I feel like I learned very quickly, it is clear to me that he has made a mental list of my skills and deficiencies so that when we dance (during a lesson or socially,) he ensures that the dance is a pleasant one for me, making sure I am comfortable and having fun while being sufficiently challenged to be better every time.
Having spent some time social dancing outside of class, I noticed that Rafael does the same for all of his follows... as proficient of a dancer he is, he makes sure to lead what he thinks his follow can handle so that the dance is enjoyable for both parties. This is an incredible quality in a dancer; it's also what makes him a superlative teacher.
I have already recommended him to a number of my friends and they couldn't have been happier with the lesson or what they got out of it in such a short amount of time.
His feedback is expert and gentle and is a consummate professional. I can't recommend him or his classes highly enough."
"Forro New York is a fun and friendly way to learn this delicious Brazilian partner dancing. The teacher Rafael is extremely professional, competent and attuned to the class' needs and evolution. I discovered Forro New York about 6 months ago and I look forward to the classes every week, they bring me so much joy. There are also a few regular live Forro events and workshops in the NYC Forro scene and it's really nice to be in touch with the Forro group outside of class and join this lively growing community."
Fabiola Bergi
“If you love forró or are curious to learn, this is the right place! Rafa is a great instructor with wonderful energy, and the students who have been there longer are very welcoming, making the environment even more enjoyable.
The classes are always fun and there are people from all over the world. Beyond forró itself, it’s also an amazing cultural experience!”
Carolina Alvarez
"Amazing place with awesome people and a great vibe! I've had de opportunity to teach while I was in the US and Forró New York was one of the projects which opened the doors to me. I felt really welcomed there and I can't recommend it enough if you want a cool experience while in the city! Dance Forró!"
Camila Alves
"I took Rafael’s classes for about a year religiously and my dancing has improved because of it. He starts class with a warm-up and introduces steps and shows variations to be done at you and your partner's comfort. This is helpful for when I currently take his classes. He breaks down the steps and always encourages you to connect to the music with your steps/movement. The people in the class are welcoming because they are in the same position as you or once was in the same position as you."
Brian Jay
"Best forró school in NY! Rafael Piccolotto is an amazing instructor with a vast repertoire, precise technique and amazing teaching skills. The group of students is fun and this school helps keeping our forro community in NY growing. Would definitely recommend for anyone considering learning a new rhythm or refining their dancing skills."
Clarissa Moliterno
"Very well prepared classes taught beautifully by Rafael. I was impressed by the fact that the class is not just about learning new steps, but each person actually receives especial attention and specific feedback. It is also very interesting the fact that there are women learning how to lead and are very good at it. It makes Forró stand out from the other ballroom dances, which follow only the traditional ladies-gentlemen model. It makes it even more dynamic and fun. Thanks for the amazing classes Forró NY!"
Gaby Saab
"Rafa is an amazing teacher! Besides teaching us forró steps, he teaches us how to connect to the music and how to listen to the music nuances, he gives us cultural context about the dance moves and fosters a great environment among students. The student community is also great! You get to meet a lot of interesting people who also love to dance."
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"Love Forró New York! 🇧🇷💃🕺🏻 The classes are fun, welcoming, and such a great way to learn forró and meet people in NYC. I’ve also been to the festivals and the Forró New York Weekend and always have the best time - amazing music, dancing, and community. Super recommend for anyone looking for a forró class in New York or a Brazilian dance class NYC 😊"
"I have been dancing Forro with Rafa and Forro New York for a few years now. The classes are wonderful if you're just starting out and if you have some experience, even better! I highly recommend checking out the classes and the socials. I can't overstate how much I've enjoyed the Forro scene here in NYC."
"Rafael is an amazing teacher, one of those who makes you feel at peace no matter the challenge. He is sensitive and extremely crafty. I’ve been taking his weekly forró class for a few months now and I’m so grateful for the amazing learning environment he has been able to cultivate. During my time as his student I’ve been able to grow my relationship with my body expression, my rhythm connection, and trust relationship with dance partners : )"
"Forró New York is an amazing project of bringing a Brazilian dance and genre which is a national treasure, and growing worldwide, to New York. It has been the only project consistently doing so for years, and with a well renowned teacher in the international community. Classes are a great way to meet other people and immerse in this passion, I highly recommend it!"
"Forro class in NYC is a great way to practice dancing! Great community, great instructors, great music and great vibes!!! The Spring and Winter Forro Festivals are also super fun 💃🪩🕺"
"I really love being part of Forró New York. I found not only a dance, but also a beautiful community.
The weekly forró dance classes in Manhattan are always fun and welcoming. Rafa is an amazing teacher, very positive and patient, and his way to teach makes it easy to learn forró, even if you are a beginner. I help as a monitor in the classes, and every week is a great experience.
If you are looking for a forró class in New York or a Brazilian dance class NYC, this is the perfect place. The environment is friendly, respectful, and full of good energy.
The forró festival in New York and the Forró New York Weekend are also incredible. These events helped me meet people from many different countries and build real friendships. As an immigrant, this means a lot. It’s not always easy to connect with people in a big city, but here I found a place to relax, have fun, and feel at home.
I truly recommend Forró New York for anyone who wants to learn forró, meet great people, and enjoy life more through dance."