BALÉ FOLCLÓRICO DA BAHIA (BFB), the only professional folk dance company in Brazil, was formed in 1988, and toured the United States for the first time in 1997. The 38-member troupe of dancers, musicians, and singers performs a high-energy repertory based on Bahian folk dances of African origin, including slave dances, capoeira (a form of martial arts), samba, and those that celebrate Carnival. Under the artistic direction of José Carlos Arandiba, the company has earned a prestigious international reputation.