The article discusses how choreography and music produced in the favelas (“marginalized neighbourhoods”) of Brazil may be approached simultaneously as a political practice and as a narrative which performatively reconfigures dystopian urban scenarios. The music videos “Rabisca o chão” and “Notorius 150” serve as a backdrop to guide us through the social conjuncture in which funk is inserted.

This includes funk as a music produced in the favelas; the passinho dance style funk gave birth to; the socio-spatial context of the favela; the black body as the centre of the narrative and the television news footage representing the war on drugs. Ultimately, this article highlights how artistic expression lays the groundwork for forging a new identity for black communities in Brazil by demonstrating the political potential inherent in dancing.