My Portfolio
MY STORY
“Me apaixonei por forró e agora vivo só nessa brincadeira”
Forróçacana
I have always been passionate about dancing, and my interest in forró began in the 2000s, influenced by Forró Universitário. I started taking ballroom dancing classes and going to forró clubs, like KVA and Canto da Ema, being present since the second edition of the Rootstock festival.
I chose to study Physical Education due to my practice of dancing and capoeira, which had already lasted five years at the time. After participating in several dance festivals, covering styles such as forró, tango, samba de gafieira and bolero, I started teaching forró classes in 2006, at the Centro de Arte e Dança Ana Guerreiro. Over time, I have taught forró to more than 3500 people, in different contexts, including university and postgraduate courses, international festivals, corporate events and social projects.
MY STORY
Experiences
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy is centered on autonomy, authenticity and integration of dance into daily life. Autonomy, for me, means exploring, improvising and providing the necessary skills to discover their own style, as I believe that dance is a unique expression for each individual. Instead of simply teaching techniques, I seek to help people feel confident and authentic.
Additionally, I introduce different rhythms to enrich people's experience, encouraging not only technical development, but also a deeper understanding of the cultural richness behind forró.
My Forró style
My Style is the result of several influences, such as Forreggae and Forró Universitário, widespread in the state of São Paulo, and my experience in Ballroom Dancing, brought the technical basis to my dance.
By attending forró clubs and festivals throughout Brazil, I sought to improve and expand my repertoire, recognizing forró as a living dance, expressed in different ways.
In my opinion, each place has its own “accent” in dance, which enriches the dance experience. My forró style is an authentic expression, rooted in the sounds and movements I encountered along this path.
My works
Where have I been
I have a master's degree from the School of Physical Education and Sport at the University of São Paulo, a program ranked among the 25 best in the world. During my master's degree, I focused on developing and testing teaching programs, building a solid foundation for my pedagogical approach.
I am the author of the Manual de la Practica Pedagogica: La Educación Physics en la Escuela, published by the UNDP in partnership with Nike, for the Mexican platform JUEGA MÁS – ESCUELAS ACTIVAS. My participation in international congresses and dance performances at festivals in Brazil and Europe reflect the diversity and scope of my experience.
Since I was 18, I have shared my love of dance by teaching classes, and at 38, I continue to inspire and motivate my students. In addition to my Master's degree in Physical Education from USP, I have a specialization in School Physical Education, and participated in the “Leaders of Learning” courses at Harvard University and “Extraordinary Physical Education Lessons” at the University of Birmingham.
I played the role of Sports and Physical Education coordinator at Planck school. Under my coordination, the Physical Education department worked to provide an environment that promoted not only physical health, but also values such as teamwork, discipline and respect.
He contributes as a professor to the postgraduate course at the Faculty of Physical Education and Dance, Education and Body, both at the renowned FMU University.
Recent works
Brazilian Day
Latin Party
June celebration
Carnaval
Some of my previous experiences include:
WORKSHOP
“Eu vou mostrar pra vocês, como se dança o baião e quem quiser aprender, é favor prestar atenção.” – Luiz Gonzaga
First steps
Workshop for beginners
With a simple and relaxed approach, participants will learn the basic fundamentals of forró in just one session. Our main goal is to offer a light and fun experience for beginners.
Evolution
Movement repertoire workshop
Expand your movement repertoire in the “Evolution” workshop! By observing the participants' prior knowledge, we introduce new movements, highlighting their origins and the cultural aspects of forró in this enriching experience!
Polishing
Small adjustments for greater fluidity
Make your dance more natural and light in the “Polishing” workshop! We seek to improve the fluidity of movements, making connections between different steps more natural and intuitive. Furthermore, we explore dance not only in rhythm but also in melody, allowing for a deeper connection with the music.
TESTIMONIALS
What my students say about me
Leo is a great teacher! I'm loving our dance classes. And he is also my personal trainer. Very dedicated and attentive. I recommend him.
Rafa
Student
I had a lot of fun during my forró class. Normally a first class is filled with thoughts of “what am I doing”, but Leo was very patient in his explanations, he is super friendly and makes us feel comfortable and relaxed while we dance. I would definitely recommend!
Morgana C. Vicente
Student
Leonardo is a really cool forró instructor and person. When I was in Tallin I had a lot of fun taking classes with him there! I totally recommend it!
Danilo Silva
Student
It's fun and makes us feel like we're in Brazil.
Tatiana Braga Lima
Student
Leo is simply an incredible dance teacher! In my opinion, it goes beyond teaching dance steps. I recommend it 100%!!!
Larissa Castro
Student
English 
Portuguese