THE ZÉ TESTINHA'S QUADRILHA
The group "Arraia do Zé Testinha" started in 1976, in the neighborhood of Vila União in Fortaleza. For 13 years they kept their presentations exclusively in their neighborhood and nearby places.
After innumerous presentations, the Arraiá do Zé Testinha decided to experiment with different ideas, copying the dance style of an old dancer from Quixadá (city in the interior of Ceará), changing the course of the group and creating an original way of dancing the traditional Festa Junina (festival with typical groups-quadrilhas of dance that happens during the month of June in Brazil).
This group studied and researched the "cangaço", in order to rescue it as a genuine expression of the Northwestern Culture of Brazil. Today their presentations re-live the "São João dos Cangaceiros".
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Presentations that came out of their original neighborhood and expanded throughout different parts of the state, participating in festivals and parties, winning a number of prizes and trophies. One of these was the "São João Trophy" granted by the "Quadrilhas Juninas' Federation of the state", another was the Golden Skeleton granted by the Pirata Bar. These prizes are a reward for their talent and importance to the Northwestern Culture, and a recognition for their 23 years of art, research and rescue of the popular traditions.
The Arraiá Zé Testinha, is the most traditional quadrilha group of the state, an example of the popular art. A group that dances, acts, writes their own songs and has a good knowledge of what they do. |
