Livestream | Polka in Brazil: Origin of Forro and Choro Music?

Hi, I’m Dallas Vietty—accordion performer and educator based in Pennsylvania, USA. I’ve been teaching accordion online for over a decade, and I love exploring the deep connections between regional styles and how they’ve shaped the way we play today. In this livestream, we’re traveling to Brazil to uncover one of the accordion’s most fascinating cultural stories.

This episode is titled “Polka in Brazil: Origin of Forró and Choro Music?” and we’ll explore the idea that polka—yes, polka—played a foundational role in the development of two of Brazil’s most beloved musical traditions: forró and choro. We’ll look at how European dance forms like the polka and schottische made their way to Brazil in the 19th century and became woven into the rhythmic and melodic DNA of Brazilian music.

For accordion players, this is a chance to connect the dots between seemingly distant genres and understand how our instrument has always lived at the crossroads of cultural exchange. We’ll dig into the rhythmic feel of forró and choro, how the accordion evolved in each style, and how early European influence blended with African diaspora musical culture and Indigenous rhythms to create something entirely new.

We’ll also listen to some classic recordings, talk about key players and historical moments, and explore how these Brazilian styles continue to evolve today—with the accordion still playing a central, expressive role. Whether you’re a fan of Brazilian music or just curious about how polka keeps showing up in unexpected places, this is a rich, inspiring topic for every accordionist.