Xaxado

is a popular dance of the "sertão nordestino" (Brazil's Northeast badlands) that reflects the sound of the peasants' sandals hitting the arid earth. The tradition of the Xaxado recounts the times and exploits of outlaws who intermittently ruled in the badlands and defended the oppressed peasants against the rich and powerful masters from the coast. Such real-life outlaws included the historic characters of Lampião and Maria Bonita. Curiously, the earliest Xaxados relied on vocals only and rifle butts hitting the ground for clocking the rhythm.

Maculelé

is a dance that originated in the sugar cane plantations during Brazil's colonial period and was performed by the slaves to celebrate a good harvest. Maculelé was also used as a martial art form in the context of defense and rebellion by the slaves against their masters.

Samba de Roda

is a type of Samba dance and rhythm that is most popular in the Northeast of Brazil, specifically in Bahia. Everybody dances together in a circle with lots of play and joy.

Afoxé

arrived from Africa with the slaves and in the Yoruba language it means "Dance of Happiness".

This type of dance is central to many animist and religious celebrations around Brasil. It is a intoxicating mix of movement, sound, and color, reflecting the sensuality and spirit of Brazil as ethnic and cultural melting pot.

Samba Reggae

is a mixture of various rhythms including Afoxé, Ijexa, and Samba Duro with Caribbean influences.

Paul Simon was the first mainstream artist to introduce this Samba Reggae music to the world when he performed and toured with the Bahian percussion band Olodum.

Axé

is a style of popular music and dance which originated in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The word comes from a ritual greeting that means good vibration and is used in the Candomblé and Umbanda religions.

Axé is danced at the Bahia Carnaval and dominates all aspects of Bahian popular culture. Its rich visual blending the stroll, smiles, flirtations, glances, faces, voices, skin, and color of the Bahian people is unique in the world.

Frevo

is the typical dance and music of the Street Carnaval in Recife/Olinda in Northeastern Brazil. This dance is very rhythmic with individual choreography and fast paced walking.

The dancers wear colorful clothing and carry a small umbrella. Originally, this dance featured no lyrics but relied solely on the sound of the instruments.

Carmen Miranda

Aquarela honors this Brazilian Artist as an ambassador of Brazilian Music to the world. Carmen was a multitalented artist full of creatively and innovation. Her dancing, songs, and acting, along with her clothes, shoes, and accessories - including the hat in form of a tropical fruit basket - defined her image and style. In the musical "Street of Paris" she conquered the public and the critics on Broadway and gained the title of "Brazilian Bombshell".

Gafieira / Dança de Salão / Samba Pagode

The word "Gafieira" comes from the French "Gaffe" (blunder) and alludes to the the ballrooms and bars where the urban working class of Rio de Janeiro has partied since the early 1900s. The Gafieira dance features an extraordinary vast repertoire of styles whose turn-of-the-century urban roots are little known among international fans. These include Lambada, Lundu, Hanera, Polka, Xotis, Tango, Maxixe, Batuque and the a rare but delightful form of Samba de Gafieira known as "Partido Alto".

Today Gafieira remains the music and dance of urban working class, it has been maintained alive and morphed into a completely contemporary experience.

Passistas

(also called Sambistas) are lead dancers at the Rio de Janeiro Carnaval parades and usually perform on the ground in front of the Bateria, dancing the very rhythmic step of "Samba no Pe".

Samba no Pe is a combination of ginga, malandragem (attitude), style, and graciousness and is also one of the most difficult Samba styles.