Dance Consortium Presents The UK And Irish Premiere Of São Paulo Dance Company

Photo by Tristram Kenton

São Paulo Dance Company is at the forefront of the South American contemporary dance scene. The company’s virtuoso dancers pair a ferocious contemporary technique with the rhythmic physicality of Latin American dance. This spring sees the company’s UK and Irish debut with a rich and varied programme of work from three choreographers rooted in Latin American or Spanish culture.

Since its founding by Brazil’s state government in 2008, São Paulo Dance Company has been under the leadership of its charismatic artistic director, Inês Bogéa. A dancer, film-maker and writer, Bogéa is widely credited with having built a superb classically-trained company which has produced over 100 dance works, almost 50 of them original commissions, and performed to more than 900,000 people in 18 different countries.

For this first UK and Irish tour, the company is presenting a thrilling programme of three boldly contemporary works, two from 2019 created especially for them and a much-loved revival from 2009.

The epic and emotionally-charged Anthem was created in 2019 by Spain’s Goyo Montero, resident choreographer with Cuba’s Acosta Danza, for an ensemble of 14 dancers. Anthem reflects on life-cycles and collective identities, inspired by songs that become hymns - anthems - for an individual, a group, a generation or a nation. Montero’s frequent collaborator Owen Belton provides a unifying and uplifting soundscore.

Nacho Duato, artistic director of the Mikhailovsky Ballet, created the sensually harmonious Gnawa in 2005 and restaged it on São Paulo Dance Company in 2009. He draws on the Mediterranean colours and flavours of Valencia for a dancework powered by the hypnotic, ritualistic music of North Africa created by seven composers - Hassan Hakmoun, Adam Rudolph, Juan Alberto Arteche, Javier Paxariño, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Velez and Kusur e Sarkissian. Duato was inspired by the mystical Islamic fellowship of the Gnawa people, brought to North Africa by the Berber as slaves.

Brazilian choreographer Cassi Abranches’ colourful and flirtatious Agora provides an exhilarating finale. Created in 2019, this is the third commission for the company from Abranches, a former dancer with iconic Brazilian company, Grupo Corpo. Exploring time and rhythm, she sculpts the movement of each dancer’s body to the percussive beats and bass grooves of Sebastian Piracés’ score, mixing drums and Afro-Brazilian percussion with rock music and vocals.

São Paulo Dance Company director Inês Bogéa says: “In 1994, I had the pleasure to tour British theatres as a dancer with Grupo Corpo. It was a very intense time, full of art and exchange of experiences. 30 years later, as São Paulo Dance Company’s artistic director, I am thrilled to be back, with the company performing in wonderful theatres around the UK and in Ireland. I thank Dance Consortium and everyone who is making this tour possible. We hope our art opens an expressive, intense, and enjoyable channel of communication with the audiences that await us”.

Dance Consortium’s Executive Director Joe Bates says: “Dance Consortium members are always on the lookout for companies from across the world to introduce to local audiences and so we are excited to welcome Sao Paolo Dance Company to the UK for the first time next spring. They are one of South America’s leading dance companies and we have been following their success for a while. We particularly love the energy and brilliance of interpretation that the dancers bring to the work of some of the world’s leading contemporary choreographers.”

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Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

Friday 8 & Saturday 9 March 2024

Evenings: 7.30pm

Post-show Q&A: Fri 8 March with members of the company (free to ticket holders)

*Tickets £33.75 - £18.75 Concession, Groups 12+ and Schools offers available.

Call the Box Office on 01274 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk

*All prices shown include booking fees but are subject to postage charge if applicable.

Bradford Theatres’ usual terms and conditions apply.