Festival Tonelada de Forró 2024

Dear Forrozeirxs!

 The next Tonelada de Forró Festival is almost here!We have three days of workshops with excellent teachers: Daniel Marinho (Salvador), Matheus Antunes (Berlin), Marilia Cervi (Lyon), Fabricio Soares (Bern)​​​​​​​, Luiz Henrique (Belo Horizonte) and a live concert by Forró Fiá (​​​​Vitória​) and Baião com Fusão (Hannover) and high class DJs: DJ Valeri (München) and DJ Pedrada (Berlin) on Friday and Saturday night.  

For up-to-date information just follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonelada_de_forro/

Our idea!

We move away from the concept of dividing dance levels and towards a bachelor and master system with modules in both roots and university style. As the festival takes place twice a year, we will be able to build on previous knowledge at subsequent festivals. The module contents as well as the requierements of the bachelor's/master's programs offered are listed below.  This means that you have to decide on a module before the festival.

Why all this?

We've all been there: you go to a festival with the greatest teachers from all over the world and at the end you don't even remember half of the content (if at all). You've taken part in everything and somehow managed it, but you haven't really learned anything. Why is that? Unfortunately, learning processes take time. Our brain only has a limited capacity to absorb information. However, attention, experience and cognitive/physical resilience also play a role. We simply need time to internalize something. The longer and more intense a certain stimulus is, the better it is memorized. So our concept is quality over quantity!

What can you expect?

7 workshops are included in the full pass (1 open level & 6 module workshops). Each module is given by two teachers in equal parts. The content is designed and coordinated in advance by us in collaboration with the teachers. This means that variations, combinations, musical aspects and much more will be taught within your topic, so that by the end of the course you will have mastered this topic comprehensively, from gross to fine motor skills.

We also offer a mini pass to get a glimpse of Forró University. This includes 2 open level workshops with Luiz Henrique before the parties and of course the parties themselves as well as the free dancing.

Course description:

Here you will find the prerequisites and content for the Bachelor modules offered (Master modules are available at future festivals):

Here you will find the prerequisites and content for the Bachelor modules offered (Master modules are available at future festivals):

• Bachelor Roots - Module Embrace Density (Fabricio Soares & Daniel Marinho):Content: One of the main concepts in roots-style is the idea of body leading , i.e. not using the arms to lead and follow but the whole structure of the embrace to give and receive inputs.Along this module, we're going to go through some moves where both, the follower and the leader, must be aware of their partner's embrace and make the necessary adaptations to their own, for a more fluid and cohesive dance. We'll start with relatively simple figures, so that we can work well on the basic concepts, and we'll move on to more complex movements throughout the module.Prerequisites: Caminhada, Caminhada with Trava and all Basic movements (Basic steps, turns, Pião)
• Content: One of the main concepts in roots-style is the idea of body leading , i.e. not using the arms to lead and follow but the whole structure of the embrace to give and receive inputs.Along this module, we're going to go through some moves where both, the follower and the leader, must be aware of their partner's embrace and make the necessary adaptations to their own, for a more fluid and cohesive dance. We'll start with relatively simple figures, so that we can work well on the basic concepts, and we'll move on to more complex movements throughout the module.
• Prerequisites: Caminhada, Caminhada with Trava and all Basic movements (Basic steps, turns, Pião)
• Bachelor Roots - Module Dance Textur (Daniel Marinho & Fabricio Soares):Content: Can you tell a baião from a forró? What about a xaxado? The idea of this module is that we start training our ear to understand these differences and adapt our dance, our movements, according to the music. But it's not just a question of gender (rhythm). Do we dance to a softer xaxado in the same way as a harder one? Or a slow baião and a more forward one? We're going to study how we can adapt the structure of our bodies to better interpret the energy of the music. Better exploiting the tempo, using the pause, catching the breaks... Our body is an instrument; our goal is to use it to "play the music", and not be hostage to the 1 2 3.Prerequisites: Good sense of rhythm (in the sense of dancing to the beat), Caminhada with trava, chutinho simples and pião​​
• Content: Can you tell a baião from a forró? What about a xaxado? The idea of this module is that we start training our ear to understand these differences and adapt our dance, our movements, according to the music. But it's not just a question of gender (rhythm). Do we dance to a softer xaxado in the same way as a harder one? Or a slow baião and a more forward one? We're going to study how we can adapt the structure of our bodies to better interpret the energy of the music. Better exploiting the tempo, using the pause, catching the breaks... Our body is an instrument; our goal is to use it to "play the music", and not be hostage to the 1 2 3.
• Prerequisites: Good sense of rhythm (in the sense of dancing to the beat), Caminhada with trava, chutinho simples and pião​​
• Bachelor Mixed Styles - Module Hips and torso - body repertoire (Matheus Antunes & Marilia Cervi):Content: Some styles focus on arms and turns. Others focus on footwork and legs. But what about the hips and torso? They're always there, but can they ever be the focus?In this series of workshops you will learn that, yes, hips and torso can be the "means". For example, you can use them as tools to lead or follow a movement. And they can also be the “ends”; there are tons of movements involving the hips or torso alone that feel awesome! Attend these classes and you'll see.Prerequisites: At least 1 out of these 2 closed-embrace moves: caminhada com trava or a comfortable 360° pião & at least 1 out of these 2 open moves: repique or 5-steps turn
• Content: Some styles focus on arms and turns. Others focus on footwork and legs. But what about the hips and torso? They're always there, but can they ever be the focus?In this series of workshops you will learn that, yes, hips and torso can be the "means". For example, you can use them as tools to lead or follow a movement. And they can also be the “ends”; there are tons of movements involving the hips or torso alone that feel awesome! Attend these classes and you'll see.
• Prerequisites: At least 1 out of these 2 closed-embrace moves: caminhada com trava or a comfortable 360° pião & at least 1 out of these 2 open moves: repique or 5-steps turn
• Bachelor Mixed Styles - Module Dialogue - Building the dance together (Marilia Cervi & Matheus Antunes):Content: We already know that connection and, above all, communication in forró are priorities in the dance. Increasingly, we discuss dance as a dialogue, something equally constructed by both the follower and the leader, but there is still a gap between theory and practice.In this series of workshops, we will address how to establish better communication between partners. The ability to be a more active follower and a more open and aware leader can be developed in various aspects, from musicality classes to repertoire classes. We invite you to immerse yourself in this fantastic world of communication and to have more unique, creative, and surprising dances.Prerequisites: Forró bases, simple turn of the leader and of the follower (cycle)
• Content: We already know that connection and, above all, communication in forró are priorities in the dance. Increasingly, we discuss dance as a dialogue, something equally constructed by both the follower and the leader, but there is still a gap between theory and practice.In this series of workshops, we will address how to establish better communication between partners. The ability to be a more active follower and a more open and aware leader can be developed in various aspects, from musicality classes to repertoire classes. We invite you to immerse yourself in this fantastic world of communication and to have more unique, creative, and surprising dances.
• Prerequisites: Forró bases, simple turn of the leader and of the follower (cycle)

FAQ:

• Is there also a Master's degree?Yes, but this April 2024 edition is the first standardized concept, which means that all possible Master's combinations that build on it are only possible in the winter semester. Incidentally, participation in the corresponding Master's is only possible if you have completed your Bachelor's with us. All content will be relevant.
• Yes, but this April 2024 edition is the first standardized concept, which means that all possible Master's combinations that build on it are only possible in the winter semester. Incidentally, participation in the corresponding Master's is only possible if you have completed your Bachelor's with us. All content will be relevant.
•        What level is my Bachelor's degree?You should definitely have a good level of dance experience. We recommend at least three quarters of a year of active course attendance or lessons. The prerequisite for the respective Bachelor's degree is also stated in the corresponding course description. You should also have a really good understanding of these steps and not have just learned them.
• You should definitely have a good level of dance experience. We recommend at least three quarters of a year of active course attendance or lessons. The prerequisite for the respective Bachelor's degree is also stated in the corresponding course description. You should also have a really good understanding of these steps and not have just learned them.
•  Which course should I take if I am already very advanced?Our Bachelor's is structured in such a way that the content is very broadly based. You may already know something in the first two workshops, but the teachers are trained accordingly so that they will always include something challenging. The level will also develop very quickly during the day, so that by the 3rd workshop at the latest, we will have reached a fairly advanced level. You won't regret it!
• Our Bachelor's is structured in such a way that the content is very broadly based. You may already know something in the first two workshops, but the teachers are trained accordingly so that they will always include something challenging. The level will also develop very quickly during the day, so that by the 3rd workshop at the latest, we will have reached a fairly advanced level. You won't regret it!

Snacks:

During the workshops there will be plenty of snacks for you included in the ticket (fruit, vegetables, salty/sweet snacks, tea/coffee). Please bring your own drinks (no glass bottles and ensure they are closable). On Friday and Saturday evening we will sell drinks on site. Please do not bring your own drinks. Please adhere to this. The prices are affordable.

Others:

The parties and open level workshops take place in the Initiative Hüttenstrasse. This location has no heating and can be quite cold (even when it's full). So if you get cold quickly, bring a sweater ;)

We are looking forward to a great time with you!Tonelada de Forró and Forró Hannover - Team