Dance forro in Praça São Salvador: The best free forro Rio de Janeiro

3 days ago
2 min read

If you want a Friday night that feels local, one of my favourite free Forro events in Rio de Janeiro is held each Friday in the neighbourhood of Laranjeiras.

Every Friday, Praça São Salvador fills up with live forró, dancing, and a crowd that is mostly Brazilian with a handful of foreigners. The vibe is welcoming, wholesome, and attracts people of all ages.

Crowded nighttime street party with couples dancing forro under trees while a live band plays on a small stage in the background in Rio de Janeiro

About the Friday night forro in Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro 💃🕺

📍 Praça São Salvador, Laranjeiras

🕕 Free dance class from around 6:30pm in Brazilian time

🎵 Live forró band from around 8pm to 10pm

💰 Free entry, donation only

Free Forro dance class for beginners

There is a free beginner's forro dance class before the band starts. Officially it begins at 6pm, which in Brazil means closer to 6:30pm. The class is open to everyone and is a good way to learn the basics before the dancing starts.

What to expect at the Forro

After the class, a live band plays from around 8pm until 10pm, with plenty of space for dancing in the square. If you're a woman, you can usually just stand around the edge of the square and someone will likely ask you to dance. If you're a man, you'll need to do the asking.

The event itself is free, although donations for the band are appreciated.

One of the great parts of this event is the casual outdoor location. Praça São Salvador is surrounded by botecos, so it's easy to grab dinner or a few drinks before or after. Inside the square you'll also find plenty of vendors selling snacks, caipirinhas, craft beer, and other drinks.

Because it finishes relatively early, it's also a great way to start a Friday night before heading somewhere else afterwards.

Want to learn more about Forro dancing? See my post: What is Forro? Traditional music and dance from Brazil