Editor’s note, September 2026. This is Raw POV’s report on the first Forró Roots Weekend in Toronto, which took place on 11 and 12 July 2026. It is kept online as a record of the event and is not a current listing. For what is running now, see our guides to where to dance forró in Canada and what forró is.
TORONTO, ON, The Toronto dance community hosted its first “Forró Roots Weekend” on July 11 and 12, 2026. The Toronto edition was part of a larger tour, with further stops scheduled for Montreal and Quebec City. It was held at Tempo Dance Collective (1610A Bloor St W) and the guest instructor was Julie Médous, from the São Paulo-based project Viajando Pelo Roots.
Forró Roots is a contemporary, sensitive, and interactive approach to dance rooted in legwork, musicality, and deep physical connection. Heavily influenced by the Brazilian dance Forró pé de serra with strong elements of Forró de Itaúnas, Samba de Gafieira, and Tango, this dance is a living language in constant transformation.
Workshop & Event Schedule
- Saturday, July 11 (10:00 AM, 12:00 PM): Foundations of Forró Roots
- Focusing on the essential evolution from Forró Universitário to Forró Roots, this session covers body mechanics, connection, and fundamental techniques.
- Level: This session is beginner-friendly.
- Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dance-workshop-foundations-of-forro-roots-saturday-tickets-1992574360551?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
- Sunday, July 12 (4:00 PM, 7:00 PM): Forró Roots Flow: Improvisation & Creativity
- Explore the Giro Paulista, develop personal style, and master techniques in counterbalance and musical improvisation.
- Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forro-roots-flow-workshop-improvisation-creativity-sunday-tickets-1992579095714?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
- Sunday, July 12 (7:00 PM, 8:00 PM): Closing Social Dance Session
- A gathering open to the public; free for all weekend workshop participants.
- Non-participants are welcome for a $12 entry fee (purchase link to be shared via Instagram).
Inclusivity and Accessibility
This event is dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming space and stands strictly against discrimination of any kind. Participants of any gender are welcome to join without a pre-arranged partner, and dancers are encouraged to choose their role (leader or follower) based on their personal preference. While the workshops are conducted in English, instructors are available to answer questions and provide guidance in Portuguese, Spanish, and French.
Collaboration and Organization
The “Forró Roots Weekend” is made possible through the collaboration of Viajando Pelo Roots, Tempo Dance Collective, the digital marketing agency Inka Digital Works, and local community builder and communications strategist, Raquel Camargo, who handled communications and community organising for the weekend.
Disclosure: Raquel Camargo is one of Raw POV’s writers, and Inka Digital Works is connected to this publication. This report carries a different byline.
About The Instructor Julie & Viajando Pelo Roots
Founded in 2021 by Nando Gonçalves and Julie Médous, Viajando Pelo Roots is a dance, research, and cultural experience project. Since 2022, the project has established a permanent base in São Paulo, operating a specialized Forró Roots school that has grown annually.
Contact Information
For inquiries regarding private coaching sessions, social dance tickets, or general event information, please visit our Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/forro_socialdancecanada/?hl=en.
This article was published ahead of the July 11-12, 2026 event and is kept as a record of the weekend’s programming and organizers. If you are looking for forró classes and socials happening now, our guide to where to dance forró in Canada is the one to check, and our beginner’s guide to forró explains the dance itself for anyone considering their first class.
Frequently asked questions
What is Forró Roots, and how is it different from Forró Universitário?
Forró Roots is a contemporary approach built on Forró pé de serra with added elements of Forró de Itaúnas, Samba de Gafieira and tango, emphasising legwork, musicality and physical connection. Forró Universitário, covered in our beginner’s guide, is the more polished, club-friendly style that spread through Brazilian university parties in the 1990s and 2000s. This weekend’s Foundations workshop was built specifically around the transition from one to the other.
Do I need a partner or prior experience to attend a Forró Roots workshop?
No. Events like this one are explicitly built to welcome participants of any gender without a pre-arranged partner, with dancers choosing to lead or follow based on personal preference rather than being assigned a role.
Who was behind the Forró Roots Weekend?
The event was a collaboration between Viajando Pelo Roots, the São Paulo-based dance project led by Nando Gonçalves and Julie Médous since 2021, Tempo Dance Collective in Toronto, Inka Digital Works, and community builder Raquel Camargo.
Are language barriers a concern at these events?
Not usually. This event’s workshops ran in English with instructors also available in Portuguese, Spanish and French, a pattern common at Toronto’s Latin and Brazilian dance events, which tend to draw a multilingual crowd.
Readers looking for regular forró in Canada rather than a one-off weekend can start with our city-by-city guide to where forró is organised in Canada, our explainer on what forró is, or, for readers south of the border, where to find forró in the United States.
📚 Part of our guide: Latin & Brazilian Dance in Canada
