São Paulo Dance Company – Bord Gáis Energy Theatre – Review
05 – 06 February 2024

The opening piece, Anthem, has 14 dancers on stage throughout. It starts with the group staring into a light that comes from high above. They are all scantily clad, with simple tight garments. They shuffle and shake their hands at the sky, before breaking into smaller groups as the wide-ranging piece continues.

This night serves as an introduction for the São Paulo Dance Company to Dublin. There are three works in this production. First up we have Anthem by choreographer Goyo Montero. After the interval, the production continues with Gnawa by Nacho Duato and finally Agora by Cassi Abranches. These three works showcase the talents of the various groups of dancers, with up to 14 performers on stage at one time.

The São Paulo Dance Company was founded by the State of São Paulo in 2008 and is led by Inês Bogéa. Since then, they have grown to become an internationally recognised Dance Company who have performed worldwide. This is their debut performance in Dublin before the group continues their tour to various locations across the UK.

In the opening piece, Anthem, the dancers never leave the stage, in this work which explores the idea of collective identities. The second piece, Gnawa is the oldest of the three and takes its name from Moroccan religious songs and rhythms as it draws “on the colours and flavours of Valencia”. It is possibly the most powerful work of the three and received a great reaction on the night. The final piece, Agora, gives us a touch of Afro-Brazilian fusion with strong percussion and bass sounds throughout.

It is always a touch special to have a company of this quality on our shores. As is often stated, Ireland has a literary tradition with an emphasis on stories and storytelling, so this is something out of the ordinary for our audiences. The three pieces are very varied, with different movements and music throughout. The one consistent element is the extraordinary skill and physicality of the dancers involved.