One of the reasons I love learning about Brazil is that just when you think you know all about its culture, you’ll discover a new art or music or dance form that you never knew about. Today was one of those days, when I discovered carimbó.

Carimbó is a type of Brazilian music and dance that originated near Belém, in Brazil’s northeast and in the Amazon basin. It has African and indigenous roots, and was originally played using drums made from tree trunks. The name comes from the Tupi word for the drum that kept the beat. The music changed over time, though; in the 1960s and 70s, carimbó was influenced by rock and other musical influences, including merengue, cumbia, zouk and lambada.

The dance form is traditionally performed with couples. Sometimes, the woman throws a handkerchief on the ground, and the man tries to pick it up with his teeth. The women usually wear long, colorful, flowing skirts, similar to traditional dancing costumes in the Caribbean. The men usually wear loose white pants and a patterned shirt. Watch carimbó in action!

Also, here’s a preview for a documentary about carimbó, that interestingly enough, also features singer Manu Chao.