Anitta’s Baile Funk Experience Ignites NYC With Sizzling Show: 5 Highlights

It’s not called baile funk for no reason. The core of the concert revolved around an unparalleled celebration of movement. From street-style dance battles to the rhythmic sway of Capoeira at the show’s kick-off, each performance underscored the critical role dance plays, deeply intertwining with the music and perhaps even overshadowing it at times. Anitta’s choreography with her crew was always on point, and at times the superstar and her team of dancers would balance on the tips of their toes on the fence on stage by hooking their fingers onto it, replicating the set for the music video for “Double Team.”

There was also another moment when Anitta incited the crowd to form a human-like hurricane in the floor area of the sold-out concert, and from up the stage, she could see that two of them formed, with the artist clearly excited to witness the sea of moving masses.

Anitta pushed boundaries with a fearless display of sexuality, engaging her audience with provocative dance moves and explicit BDSM images on the screens. Many attendees and stage performers also wore body harnesses, sexy fishnets and/or thongs. At one point, the performance even included instances of simulating risqué acts, as well as empowering chants that reinforced the sex-positive theme. “I wanna, you wanna, you wanna f–k me hard,” shouted the superstar, while singing her song “Savage Funk.”

Anitta’s appreciation for film was illustrated through her concert’s captivating visuals that not only showcased her performance but also elevated it, from the occasional BDSM themes to the lush landscapes of Brazil — its beaches, bodies, the favelas, and the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue — with each scene painting a piece of her homeland. Moreover, the visuals wove together elements of Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian religion that combines Yoruba, Bantu, and Fon influences, with Catholicism, infusing her performance with powerful cultural symbols and narratives.

Integrating myriad Brazilian cultural elements, from glitchy techno brega sounds to tribal Amazonian visuals and some bossa nova, Anitta presented a rich showcase that brought the spirit of Brazil to NYC. This element of the concert served not just as entertainment but also as a cultural bridge, sharing the vibrant heritage of her homeland with an international and wildly diverse audience.

Reflecting themes of LGBTQA+ and gender fluidity, the concert was more than just a musical performance — it was a rally for empowerment and inclusion. Anitta shared the spotlight with her diverse ensemble, creating a communal atmosphere that celebrated diversity in all forms.