This is a traditional folk dance from Rio Grande do Sul, a southern state of Brazil. The music is from Barbosa Lessa’s CD “Danças Folcloricas Gauchas.” The dance shows Spanish influences from the border countries of Argentina and Uruguay and from the Polish mazurka brought by immigrants to Brazil. It is similar to a waltz, with the stress on the first beat. The lyrics are an invitation made by the gaucho to his gauchinha (lady) to dance the Rancheira in this specific way.

Presented by Lucia Cordeiro in 2013. View pdf here.