About

Barefoot Tango & Forró

A way of being, not a dress code

Barefoot Tango & Forró introduces people to close embrace partner dance through Argentine tango and Brazilian forró. It is a joyful, inclusive and non-gendered way of dancing in connection.

While rooted in tango and forró, this is also a broader practice of close embrace that can be explored with different kinds of music — not limited to a single genre or tradition.

Our Approach

Our teaching is informed by over 20 years of experience in Argentine tango and a deepening practice of Brazilian forró, alongside wider movement backgrounds in solo and contemporary dance.

We draw on:

  • contemporary and somatic movement practices
  • improvisation and musical awareness
  • inclusive approaches influenced by queer tango culture
  • experience dancing across styles including reggae, afrobeat, DnB, and folk

Our focus is simple:
connection, listening, and shared movement in the embrace.

Warm-ups are led by experienced contemporary dancers, supporting body awareness, axis, and flow — helping participants move from stillness into connection with others.

Workshops & Classes

We offer:

  • Regular classes in Cornwall
  • One-off workshops and festival events
  • Travelling workshops internationally

Sessions are designed to be accessible and welcoming:

  • no partner required
  • beginner-friendly
  • exploration of both leading and following roles
  • emphasis on musicality, play, and connection

Workshops often move from open movement into close embrace, exploring how connection changes across different rhythms and styles of music.

Ethos

At the heart of this work is a respect for the cultural roots of tango and forró, alongside an exploration of how these dances evolve in new places.

We ask:
What does close embrace dance become when it is lived in Cornwall, shaped by the people who dance it here?

We aim to hold a space that is:

  • inclusive
  • consent-aware
  • playful and exploratory
  • rooted in tradition, open to adaptation

Community & Participation

We welcome people with:

  • no previous experience in tango or forró
  • experience in other dance forms
  • interest in close embrace partner dance

We are also open to collaboration with dancers, teachers, and facilitators interested in contributing to the development of this work