Puff – Dublin Dance Festival – Review

Puff  – Alice Ripoll & Hiltinho Fantástico
Irish Premiere – Brazil

Dates: Fri 15—Sat 16 May 2026

This production by Brazilian choreographer Alice Ripoll features the dancer Hiltinho Fantástico in an intense and visceral solo performance. Though only 30 minutes in duration, the work fully immerses the audience in the dancer’s physical and emotional journey. The opening section unfolds entirely without music. Fantástico, dressed only in a pair of shorts, exposes his muscular frame as every movement reverberates through the space. We hear the slap and thud of his feet against the stage floor, alongside his groans and vocalisations, and are left wondering what drives this movement — what has triggered this trance-like emotional state.

The seating arrangement is slightly unconventional. In addition to the standard seating in the Project Arts Centre main space, audience members may also sit around the perimeter of the stage, allowing them to choose their own perspective from which to experience the work.

The choreography draws heavily on Passinho, a dance style born on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Meaning “little step,” Passinho blends elements of samba, funk, popping, and frevo. Fantástico steps and slides in staggered, fluid motions, punctuated by bursts of impressive athleticism as he launches himself high above the stage. Sweat pours from his body, a visible testament to the intensity of the performance.

The soundtrack, created collaboratively by Ripoll and musician Mimosa, is used sparingly but effectively throughout. One section features rapid, plucked guitar, while another centres on piano. Each musical shift subtly transforms the movement vocabulary, as the dancer surrenders to the rhythm and allows it to reshape his physical expression.

Despite its brevity, the performance is quite affecting, with Hiltinho Fantástico’s commanding physical presence dominating the stage throughout. Harsh lights beat down on him like the relentless force of a midday sun. At times, he appears trapped in a drug-induced haze, eyes closed or fixed blankly into space as he twitches and staggers across the floor. Yet these moments are powerfully counterbalanced by displays of control and athleticism, revealing a performer capable of daunting leaps, explosive jumps, and remarkable physical precision.