PRIVATE FORRÓ DANCE LESSONS
LEARN TO DANCE FORRÓ IN NEW YORK
Private Forró lessons in New York City and Jersey City for all levels, offered in focused one-on-one or couple sessions designed for high-quality, personalized learning and faster progress.
Looking to elevate your Forró skills?
Whether you’re just starting or refining your technique, private lessons are the perfect way to grow your confidence on the dance floor.
WHY CHOOSE PRIVATE FORRÓ LESSONS
Progress faster with focused private instruction compared to group classes or generic dance programs.
Learn in a fully focused environment with immediate feedback and real-time correction.
Schedule lessons flexibly based on your availability.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Each lesson focuses on developing core dance skills.
• Posture, connection, technique, musicality, and creativity.
• Essential leading and following skills for smooth and confident dancing.
• A diverse range of forró movements to enhance your repertoire.
If you’d like to understand more about how private lessons work and how different students approach their learning process, you can read a blog post that explores common profiles, goals, and ways to get the most out of private forró lessons.
BONUS FEATURES
• Recap video available at the end of the class, summarizing the movements and concepts learned.
• Option to record a full dance to one song of your choice, either solo, with your instructor, or with your partner.
These lessons are designed for students who value focused, high-quality instruction and a deep understanding of Forró as a social dance.
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
Rafael Piccolotto de Lima is a forró dancer, musician, and educator from Campinas (São Paulo, Brazil) with over 20 years of experience in forró dance.
He is a Latin Grammy-nominated composer, conductor, and Doctor of Musical Arts, bringing a strong musical foundation to his approach to dance education, with a focus on rhythm, phrasing, and musicality.
Rafael teaches weekly in New York City and has led workshops and classes at forró festivals and events across North America and internationally.
He is also the creator of Forró New York’s online learning program, developing structured online forró courses for English-speaking dancers worldwide.
Within the English-language space for forró education, Rafael is one of the most established instructors and content creators, with one of the most widely recognized YouTube channels dedicated specifically to teaching forró and discussing its technique, musicality, and practice in English.
Watch the video below from our channel, featuring Rafael dancing in Manhattan between classes with a visiting student from Brazil.
This spontaneous moment offers a clear glimpse into his style - connection, musicality, and adaptability in practice - and can help you decide if this is what you are looking to learn in your private forró lessons in New York.
For a broader view, visit our YouTube channel, where you’ll find dozens of demonstration videos from classes, social dancing, and major forró events with leading artists from North America, Europe, and Brazil.
WHO THESE LESSONS ARE FOR
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Dancers of all levels looking for a personalized and efficient way to learn Forró
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Individuals and couples who want to deepen technique, connection, and musicality through one-on-one guidance
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People who want to understand how the dance works in their body, improve specific skills, and develop confidence through guided practice and feedback
If you’d like to understand how private lessons work and why they are so effective, watch the video below.
TESTIMONIALS
(see more on google)
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. Highly recommended!
Lívia Silva (New York)
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.
Tuomas Ranta (San Francisco)
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)
HOW IT WORKS
Private forró lessons are structured as focused, personalized sessions designed to adapt to your level and goals in real time.
Each lesson lasts one hour and does not follow a rigid, fixed curriculum. Instead, the content is shaped by your needs, your pace of learning, and what emerges naturally during the session.
You can take lessons solo or with a partner. In some cases, lessons can also be arranged for small groups of friends or couples. In all formats, the session remains personalized, but the attention and dynamics are adjusted to the number of participants.
Lessons are designed to evolve organically. Depending on your level, we may focus on fundamentals such as timing, connection, posture, and basic movements, or move into more detailed work on musicality, repertoire, and styling.
To book a lesson, you fill out a simple form on this page. After booking through the form, you receive a confirmation email with scheduling instructions.
PRICING AND OPTIONS
Private Lesson (60 minutes)
• $120 for an individual
• $150 for a couple
Packages
• 4 sessions: $400 individual / $550 couple
• 10 sessions: $850 individual / $1,000 couple
Private lessons for small groups or multiple couples are available upon request. Please submit a form with your group size and preferred dates to receive a customized quote.
SCHEDULING
Lessons are available weekdays and weekends between 2 PM and 10 PM.
LOCATIONS
Private lessons are held at the instructor’s home studio in Jersey City (waterfront, next to PATH train), with easy access from Manhattan.
Alternative locations options
Lessons can also be arranged at a different location upon request:
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At the student’s home
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At a rented dance studio in New York City
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At another mutually agreed location
Additional information
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Lessons held outside the home studio are subject to an additional travel fee, typically equal to the price of one lesson
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If a studio rental is required, booking and payment are the responsibility of the student
PRIVATE FORRÓ LESSONS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DO I NEED A PARTNER FOR PRIVATE FORRÓ LESSONS?
You can take private lessons either solo or with a partner - the choice is entirely yours.
ARE PRIVATE LESSONS GOOD FOR BEGINNERS?
Yes, private lessons are excellent for beginners. They provide a comfortable and supportive environment, especially for those who may feel intimidated in group classes. The content is fully adapted to your pace, allowing you to build a strong foundation from the very beginning.
HOW LONG IS EACH PRIVATE LESSON?
Private lessons typically last one hour. Longer sessions can be arranged depending on your goals and availability. Some students prefer extended sessions to dive deeper into technique, musicality, or practice time.
HOW MANY LESSONS DO I NEED TO LEARN FORRÓ?
You can start understanding the fundamentals of forró in your very first lesson. With around four lessons, most students are able to build a basic repertoire, develop body awareness, and feel more comfortable dancing. Progress beyond that point becomes a natural process of refinement, expanding your vocabulary, and gaining more experience on the dance floor.
WHERE DO THE LESSONS TAKE PLACE?
Lessons take place at the instructor’s space, located in the waterfront area of Jersey City, just one block from the PATH train station. Lessons can also be scheduled at other locations, subject to an additional travel fee. This fee typically corresponds to the cost of one additional lesson.
CAN I BOOK LESSONS AT HOME OR IN A STUDIO?
Yes, you can schedule lessons at your home or at a studio of your choice. In this case, you are responsible for providing the space where the lesson will take place, as well as covering the instructor’s travel time and transportation costs. For common locations such as Manhattan, this additional fee is typically equivalent to the cost of one extra hour of lesson, depending on the location.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRIVATE AND GROUP CLASSES?
In private lessons, you have exclusive access to the instructor, who focuses entirely on your learning throughout the session. The content, pacing, and structure of the lesson are fully tailored to your individual needs, goals, and learning style. This allows for a more efficient and personalized learning process. In group classes, the instructor’s attention is shared among multiple students. You will rotate partners, follow a predefined class structure, and move at a collective pace rather than an individualized one. Private lessons also offer the unique advantage of dancing directly with the instructor. This provides a more accurate physical reference of the dance, helping you develop body awareness, connection, and technique more quickly by experiencing the movement with someone highly experienced.
HOW MUCH DO PRIVATE FORRÓ LESSONS COST?
The cost of private forró lessons varies depending on the package and location. Single lessons and lesson packages are available, with discounted rates for multiple sessions. Additional fees may apply for lessons outside the instructor’s location. For the most up-to-date pricing, please refer to the booking section on this page.
HOW DO I BOOK A PRIVATE LESSON?
To book a private lesson, you can fill out the contact or booking form available on this page. After submitting the form, you will receive an email from the instructor to follow up on your request. From there, scheduling can be finalized via email or moved to a more direct form of communication, such as WhatsApp or text message, to make the process faster, more personal, and more flexible.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO A LESSON?
Casual and comfortable clothing is perfectly suitable for a lesson. Avoid uncomfortable shoes, high heels, or clothing that restricts movement. It is also recommended to avoid large or rigid accessories that could cause discomfort or interfere with close partner dancing.
ARE THE LESSONS IN ENGLISH OR PORTUGUESE?
Lessons are available in both English and Portuguese. The instructor is fully bilingual, and the language of the lesson can be chosen according to your preference.
BOOKING & CANCELLATION POLICY
To confirm your lesson, full payment is required after scheduling.
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Cancellations made at least 72 hours in advance are eligible for a full refund.
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Cancellations made between 24 and 72 hours before the lesson are subject to a 50% fee.
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Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance, or no-shows, are charged in full.