Charme is a street dance style that originated in Brazil in the early 1980s.Ana Ionova, Under a Highway in Rio, a Dance Style Charms a New Generation, New York Times, December 31, 2024Catherine Osborn, The Undeniable Charm of Brazil's Latest Dance Craze, America's Quarterly, November 1, 2017 Like baile funk, baile charme evolved from the so-called bailes black (Black parties), popular in the 1970s, which featured soul, funk, and R&B music. The press dubbed it the Movimento Black Rio (Black Rio Movement). In the 1980s, during the post-disco era, this scene began to branch into two distinct party styles: baile charme and baile funk. Baile charme embraced smoother rhythms, drawing from contemporary R&B, often highlighting love songs and soulful melodies — which inspired the name "charme." In contrast, baile funk leaned into high-energy beats, influenced by Miami Bass and freestyle, creating a fast-paced environment centered around dance. This split reflected a broader evolution in Brazilian urban music and nightlife culture. The term charme is used not only to describe the parties themselves, but also as a broader label for the musical styles played at these events.
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