The traditional dance at Brazil’s Festa Junina celebrations is called quadrilha.
Quadrilha is a group dance performed in lines or pairs, often with a caller announcing movements and figures. It developed from European quadrille traditions and became adapted to Brazilian rural festival culture. Today it is a central performance at Festa Junina events across Brazil.
Dancers commonly wear costumes styled as an idealized countryside wedding party. A humorous staged wedding, called a casamento caipira, may be included before or during the dance. The caller’s instructions create formations such as circles, bridges, partner changes, and movements associated with rural life.
Quadrilha is not the same as samba, even though both are important Brazilian dance traditions. Festa Junina also includes foods made with corn, bonfires, games, and decorations, while honoring Saint Anthony, Saint John, and Saint Peter.