Nicola Andrian, university researcher, musician, and … citizen of the world, lives in Petrolina, a city in the heart of the Brazilian Sertão, the birthplace of Forró. There, he coordinates a social and intercultural exchange project as well as an international mobility program for university students with Italy.
In the summer of 2000, during his first volunteer experience in this city, he discovered and began dancing Forró, a style of music and popular dance originating from the northeast region of Brazil … and it was love at first sight, or rather … at the first step!
Since 2018, he has been part of the dance group SertãoPéQuente and, since 2022, of the group Forrozeiros PNZ, both founded and active in the city of Petrolina.
With the SertãoPéQuente group, he continues his training as an advanced-level dancer and as a teacher at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. He participates in Brazilian and international Forró festivals, attending workshops and deepening his knowledge of various styles and approaches to Forró dance with top-level instructors. As a researcher, he is also passionate about and delves into the history, cultural, social, and political significance of Forró and the Feste Junine (festivals in honor of Saint John) from their origins.
In 2020, the SertãoPéQuente group appointed him as their ambassador in Italy.