By Katie Isham.
Imagine a world where the government founds a dance company. Stop laughing. It really happened. In 2008, the Brazilian government did just that and since then, the São Paulo Dance Company has been going from strength to strength.
Talking of strength, the muscles and power wielded on stage by these superhuman dancers is almost unfathomable. If you want to see something truly incredible, invest in a ticket. This week (13-14 February, 2024), the Mayflower Theatre is hosting the São Paulo Dance Company through Dance Consortium, a group of 19 theatres that presents a range of contemporary dance from across the world to local audiences.
This is the Brazilian company’s first tour of the UK, and I bet you’ve never seen anything quite like it. I never have, but now I’m harbouring a frankly ridiculous dream of running away and becoming a dancer.
From the opening moments, the dancers set out their intention. Dressed sparsely, they move together with an unnerving cohesion. A migrating flock, bending and breaching across the stage. This first piece reflects on life. The joy and the collaboration between people as well as the inevitable conflict.
As the accompanying music swells and limbs flow as one body, it’s impossible to not feel moved by the moment. Several dancers spin in such precise unison that your heart will leap alongside the bare feet on stage.
There are two more pieces throughout the evening. After the opening Anthem comes Gnawa and Agora. Though they are around 25 minutes each, they disappear in a flash. You can’t take your eyes off the mystical movement on stage.
The dancers are perfect human specimens using their bodies in ways us mere mortals can only dream of. The skill in their twists and stretches is phenomenal. But there’s beauty in the smaller moments too. Every flick of a foot or angle of a head is beautifully intentioned. No moment is wasted.
In Gnawa, the ritualistic music (created by no less then seven composers) acts as another entity alongside the dancers on stage. At one point, two dancers took centre stage and the audience was rapt. The duo twisted and lifted and flung each other around as if it was the most natural thing in the world. A wonder of art.
Yet my favourite part was in the third act. A somewhat more upbeat piece, Agora takes inspiration from the concept of tempo, in all its forms. The ticking clock gives way to Afro-Brazilian beats. And then someone jumps feet first into the arms of her partner. Then it happens again. With two dancers. In complete, awe-inspiring synchronicity. The trust and confidence here is off the scale.
And trust me when I say you should witness this for yourself. This is storytelling, athleticism and human inspiration at its most sonorously beautiful.
I may not ever become a “real” dancer, but after experiencing the São Paulo Dance Company, I resolve to jump feet first into more situations and to move across my own stage with complete intention.
Tickets for São Paulo Dance Company (Tuesday 13– Wednesday 14 February 2024) are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.
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