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Grupo Corpo Brazilian Dance Theater: South America's sexiest dance company brings its trademark sizzle and syncopation to the National Arts Centre
 November 04, 2002 -
OTTAWA -- A sold-out smash hit during their previous NAC
appearances, Brazil's hottest dance company returns to Southam
Hall of the National Arts Centre on Friday November 22 and Saturday
November 23 at 20:00 -- with an eye-popping new programme of vibrant
music, extraordinary costumes, and sensual and witty choreography.
Grupo Corpo expertly combines elements of classical ballet and
contemporary dance with the sinuous, polyrhythmic complexity of
Afro-Brazilian movement. The 19-member company has been called
"flirtatious, steamy, primordial, threatening and comic" and this
evening delivers both electrifying energy and breathtaking beauty.
Grupo Corpo had originally been scheduled for one performance only,
but demand for tickets required the addition of a second show.
" Energy is a synonym for Grupo Corpo...hip-swiveling
samba-like exuberance with ballet pirouttes and
jetés."
Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times, October 26,
2002
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CHOREGRAPHY Rodrigo Pederneiras
MUSIC Marco Antonio Guimares,
performed by the UAKTI Experimental Group
DIRECTION and LIGHTING Paulo Pederneiras
Geometry turns into gesture: returning to its Brazilian roots with
a sun-drenched style of dancing, steps, sequences, costumes, lighting
and atmosphere, Grupo Corpo discovers the perfect translation of the
word 'ballet' into its mother tongue. Music, lighting,
scenery, movement, and choreography are unequivocally Brazilian and
original.
O Corpo
CHOREGRAPHY Rodrigo Pederneiras
MUSIC Arnaldo Antunes
DIRECTION and LIGHTING Paulo Pederneiras
This new work explores the body - its component parts,
flexibility, and its artistic and sensual potential.
"Ethnic variety, technical power, and inexhaustible stamina
...spectacular"
The Los Angeles Times
"...gorgeous in all their images and the performances were
electrifying. Grupo Corpo's dancers are well-trained and
abundantly gifted with pliancy and energy ... extraordinary sex
appeal"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Grupo Corpo Brazilian Dance Theater, founded in 1975, creates
large-scale theatrical works that fuse contemporary dance with Latin
sensuality. The company's signature style is a fluid fusion of
the rigorous control of classical ballet, African syncopation,
sizzling Latin rhythm, and the freedom and invention of modern dance.
Their work is marked by speed, originality of physical language, and
the sheer grace of the flamboyantly handsome Grupo Corpo dancers.
Ready to dance until they drop, they are a versatile corps with
physical ingenuity, technical power and inexhaustible stamina;
reviewers have commented that the dancers are so flexible they seem
practically boneless. Anna Kisselgoff of The New York Times
observed that "They move with a pelvis-rotating gaiety that
speaks of Brazil's melting-pot culture." Tresca Weinstein of the
Albany Times Union wrote that "... the jaw-droppingly
awesome Brazilian troupe Grupo Corpo exploded across the stage in a
performance that could have stood up to the flashiest Fourth of July
light show." Audiences around the world simply call them
extraordinary, applauding their deliriously captivating
performances.
The creative collaboration between choreographer, Artistic
Director, dancers, lighting designer, scenic artist, and costume
designer ensures that each work has tremendous harmony and unity.
This integration also includes the creation of music, as Grupo Corpo
works predominantly with original music commissioned from
Brazil's best contemporary composers. The soul and genius of
this Brazilian troupe is founding artistic director, choreographer,
and former company dancer Rodrigo Pederneiras, "the Jiri Kylian of
Brazil." He is one of four of the six Pederneiras brothers and
sisters who were among the original troupe members. Rodrigo
Pederneiras creates large-scale, theatrical works connecting
indigenous Brazilian movement, colour and rhythms with the formal
structures of classical ballet. Amid meticulous sequences of
breathtaking complexity, his work maintains a magical quality with
images of astounding beauty and a playful, refined sense of humour
that is intelligent but intelligible.
Grupo Corpo Brazilian Dance Theater performs O Corpo and
21 in Southam Hall of the National Arts Centre on Friday
November 22 and Saturday, November 23 at 20:00. Tickets are $46, $44
and $35, and $23.75, 22.75, and $18.25 for students (upon
presentation of a valid student ID card). Tickets are available at
the NAC Box Office (in person) and through Ticketmaster
(with surcharges) at (613) 755-1111; Ticketmaster may also be
accessed through the NAC's website at www.nac-cna.ca.
Last-minute tickets (subject to availability) for full-time students
are $9.50 at the Live Rush Centre in the NAC Foyer after 18:00 on the
day of performance only, upon presentation of a valid 'Live
Rush' card.
Photos for all dance events can be viewed and downloaded at:
www.nac-cna.ca/media/
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Information:
Gerald Morris
Marketing and Media Relations,
NAC Dance Department
(613) 947-7000, ext. 249
gmorris@nac-cna.ca
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