BEGINNERS
FORRÓ ONLINE COURSE
Learn forró from anywhere, even if you are starting from zero.
Build rhythm, coordination, confidence, and real social dance foundations through guided independent practice.
No partner required.
BUILD REAL FOUNDATIONS FOR SOCIAL DANCING
This course helps you move from imitation to real understanding of forró.
Because Rafael is also a Latin Grammy-nominated composer and music director, the course approaches forró through rhythm, movement, body organization, musicality, and social dance understanding.
Rather than simply memorizing patterns, you develop coordination, rhythm awareness, body control, and movement understanding progressively through guided practice.
The goal is to help you feel more prepared for classes, workshops, parties, and real social dancing.
A PREVIEW OF YOUR BASIC FORRÓ REPERTOIRE
This video presents part of the beginner movement vocabulary explored throughout the course.
Inside the lessons, each movement is broken down progressively through detailed explanations, guided practice, rhythm application, and technical development.
The goal is not only to memorize steps, but to understand how movement connects to rhythm, coordination, and social dancing.
WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR
This beginner-level forró course focuses on developing rhythm, coordination, body awareness, and movement understanding progressively through guided independent practice.
This course is for you if:
-
you are starting from zero or very early stage
-
you want to understand forró, not just copy steps
-
you want to build a solid technical and body foundation
-
you want to feel more confident in classes, workshops, and social dances
BEGINNERS
75$Every yearDevelop rhythm, coordination, body awareness, and real social dance foundations through structured solo and group classes designed for beginners.- 4h+ of solo classes (technique, repertoire, and musicality)
- 6h+ of group classes recorded in NYC (partner moves)
- Additional content (playlists, tips, etc.)
Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each billing cycle so you can continue your learning without interruption. You can cancel at any time before the renewal date, and your access will remain active until the end of your current period.
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
Rafael Piccolotto de Lima
is the Founder and Educational Director of Forró New York, where he has been teaching forró classes and developing the project’s educational programs since 2017.
He is a Latin Grammy-nominated composer, arranger, and music director, with a teaching approach focused on the techniques that build a strong foundation for connection, creativity, and musicality in dance.
WHAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY LEARN
Here is a clear breakdown of what you will work on inside the course.
CORE MOVEMENTS
Fundamental forró step system covering all basic bases and one key variation.
-
Basic side step in 1 beat (lateral movement - "balanço")
-
Basic side step in 2 beats (lateral movement - "dois pra cá, dois pra lá")
-
Back step (for open position movements)
-
Front and back step
-
Cross variation (basic crossed-foot variation)
BODY AWARENESS & TECHNIQUE
How to organize and control your body while dancing.
-
Posture and body alignment
-
Weight transfer control
-
Hip and upper body coordination
-
Movement efficiency and stability
MUSICALITY
How to connect movement with forró music.
-
Core rhythms (xote, baião, forró, xaxado, arrasta-pé)
-
Step timing and phrasing
-
Relationship between rhythm and movement
PARTNER APPLICATION (LIVE CLASS MATERIAL)
Recorded in real group classes in New York, this section shows how the fundamentals are applied in a partner setting.
You see the transition from solo practice to real interaction with another dancer, including timing, connection, and execution in a social context.
-
Step-by-step partner figures
-
Basic combinations with clear breakdown
-
Timing and coordination in real interaction
-
Practical application inside a group class environment
FROM SOLO PRACTICE TO SOCIAL DANCING
Learn how the individual foundations developed through guided practice transfer into real social dancing situations.
The course progressively connects rhythm, coordination, timing, movement vocabulary, and partner interaction in a practical and applicable way.
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Dancers from different countries and backgrounds participate in the Forró New York online learning ecosystem through courses, workshops, festivals, virtual classes, and independent practice.
This map reflects part of the international reach of the project throughout these past years.
STUDENT EXPERIENCES
Many dancers who join the Beginners Course are starting from zero, arriving from other dance backgrounds, or looking for a more structured and clear way to understand forró fundamentals.
The course focuses on helping students develop rhythm, coordination, body awareness, confidence, and movement understanding progressively through guided practice.
“I didn’t have any dance experience before. After a couple of months I already felt comfortable joining the intermediate class.”
Molly Chicy
“Rafael breaks things down so beginners can catch on easily.”
Genevieve Marie Aidala
“The classes are accessible to everyone and Rafa is a great instructor who helps students make real progress.”
Noelia Martinez
.png)
“The beginner online class helped a lot because the course breaks down the steps so you can really learn the technique well.”
Barbara Montedori
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is forró hard to learn?
Forró is often more accessible than many people imagine.
The dance is based on rhythm, walking patterns, weight transfer, timing, connection, and coordination developed progressively over time.
Many beginners feel intimidated initially, but with guided practice and repetition, the learning process usually becomes much more natural.
→ Read more: Is Forró Hard to Learn? Why It’s One of the Most Accessible Partner Dances
Can I learn forró even if I think I have no rhythm?
Yes.
Rhythm is a skill that can be trained progressively through listening, repetition, movement awareness, and coordination exercises.
Many dancers who initially struggle with rhythm improve significantly once they begin understanding how rhythm connects to movement and musical structure.
→ Read more: Can You Learn How to Dance With No Rhythm? Yes - Here’s How
Do I need a partner to start learning?
No.
The course was specifically designed so dancers can begin developing rhythm, coordination, body awareness, timing, and movement vocabulary independently.
Partner interaction is introduced progressively, but many of the most important foundations can be trained alone.
→ Read more: Do You Need a Partner to Learn Dance? How It Works in Forró
What are the basic steps of forró?
The beginner foundations include lateral steps, back steps, marking patterns, timing organization, weight transfer, rhythm awareness, and movement coordination.
The goal is not only memorizing steps, but understanding how movement connects to rhythm and social dancing.
→ Read more: What Are the Basic Steps of Forró?
Is this course choreography-based?
No.
The focus is social dancing.
Rather than memorizing choreography or fixed sequences, the course emphasizes rhythm, coordination, movement understanding, partner interaction, and adaptability on the dance floor.
Will this help me feel more comfortable in social dancing?
Yes.
The goal is to help dancers gradually feel more comfortable with rhythm, movement vocabulary, timing, coordination, and social dance interaction.
The course focuses on developing practical foundations that later become usable in classes, workshops, parties, and festivals.
BEGINNERS
75$Every yearDevelop rhythm, coordination, body awareness, and real social dance foundations through structured solo and group classes designed for beginners.- 4h+ of solo classes (technique, repertoire, and musicality)
- 6h+ of group classes recorded in NYC (partner moves)
- Additional content (playlists, tips, etc.)
Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each billing cycle so you can continue your learning without interruption. You can cancel at any time before the renewal date, and your access will remain active until the end of your current period.