Matheus Pessoa - artist and forró teacher - has a rich journey that interwines with the arts, shaping his unique path in dance. He immersed himself deeply in the studies of forró as a dancer and percussionist. He found a way to connect with the culture and stories through the music and people that this social dance carries within. Additionally, Matheus became the co-founder of the inspiring "Forró na Praça" project alongside with his partner, Luiza Barbieri. Together, they harnessed energy and love for forró to create a safe environment for celebration and learning, where people of all ages can come together and dance under the open sky, sharing the joy of this social dance.
As a forró teacher, Matheus aims to bring a perspective of dance as a non-verbal means of communication, in other words, a form of organic connection that arises from the assemblage of bodies, music, and environment. Thus, through dancing, we establish a dialogue, listening to each other with care, curiosity, and attention – developing the ability to commune, to adapt through improvisation and creativity.
At the same time, she proposes intertextuality, incorporating elements from “Traditional Dances” (Coco, Carimbó, Maracatu, Afoxé, Frevo, and a myriad of our Brazilian cultural expressions) and other social dances. After all, in the end, style is just attire for those who know how to speak...
May this profile bring a bit of the flavor that a “cherô” and a “pão de queijo” hold within.
