The North-East region of Brazil, from Salvador northwards, is known for its sunny, tropical beaches and its tourist destinations such as Fortaleza, Recife and Natal. But it´s the bleak interior with its vast arid plains, with its scorching sun and harsh lifestyle, which produced one of the most typical musical styles in Brazil - the Forró.
Forró dances are major events in the smaller towns. The simple country people come together in June and July for the annual festivals in honour of St. John. They gather in the town squares in front of the brightly-lit churches for fairs and fireworks and dance late into the night.
Today, the towns of Caruaru (Pernambuco) and Campina Grande (Paraíba), both in the Northeast, compete for the title of forró capital, with long-term festivities turned into tourist events that gather bigger crowds every year.
Forró is danced in a very sensual way, with the two dance partners´ bodies closely entwined. They dance in sychronisation with the characteristic rythm of the music.
Forró got its name in the Second World War - or so the story goes. American troops were based in Natal, which was the closest point to Europe in South America. The G.I.s read the signs and advertisements for the local dances, which included the words "Para todos" - for all, meaning that anybody could come to the dance, and they adopted the expression. The local Brazilians then started to use the same name, turning For All into forró.

 Arrastapé: (foot-dragger) is a quick version
 Xote: the slower version