The Vancouverist
  • Home +
    • contact
  • Interviews - news
    • more interviews - news
  • Theatre
    • more theatre
  • Film
    • more film
  • Music
    • more music

Grupo Corpo

2/8/2014

 
Picture
still from Sem Mim
Grupo Corpo draws two standing ovations on opening night!
Grupo Corpo's show is staged as two independent 40-47 minute productions: 
Ímã and Sem Mim.

Ímã (magnet)

Human interdependence: connection and disconnect, full and empty. Ímã is a love story of sorts that speaks to the need for others and the blending and growing of relationships. 

Artistic director Paulo Pederneiras sets virtuoso Roderigo Pederneiras choreography against a minimalistic backdrop of solid colour and fluctuating light, with the +2's (Moreno, Domenico, Kassin) original music inspired by João Donato, Fela Kuti, and Cornelius, perfectly punctuating the flow of the dancers.

Each dance segment flows beautifully into the next with dancers emerging into their own routine to step in synch with another, picking up a step or movement from that piece, then moving forward with yet another: all with flawless execution. Not a breath is taken, it appears, as the dancers float between extremely difficult movements with grace and precision, connecting ballet and latin dance with a strong, smooth contemporary thread.

The pieces move from jovial and light-hearted to romantic and loving, and culminate in obsession and violence. Only in dance can one find beauty in violence. This final coupling of the first half has you gasping not only at the fury of the performance, but at the story that is so clearly visualized through the expertise in its execution: a well deserved first ovation.

Sem Mim (without me)

Maidens in love and the solace of the sea: the calm of the ebb to the crescendo of passion. Sem Mim is the story of need and desire and the necessity of a connection to others. Paolo Pederneiras sets Roderigo Pederneiras spectacular sequence of interflowing dance pieces, to Carlos Núñez and José Miguel Wisnik's original score inspired by poet Martin Codax's Sea of Vigo Song Cycle that dates back to the 13th century.

Sem Mim is a visual delicacy of dancers in Freusa Zechmeister's individually designed unitards covered in art inspired by the Middle Ages, which give the illusion of nudity marked only by the symbolic tattoo. A minimalistic set design of fluctuating fabric represents, among others, mountains, clouds, and the sea, and retains focus on the extraordinary movement of the dancers.

Enough cannot be said about the expertise of the performers. The insane precision, control, and seemingly effortless execution coupled with generous showcasing of the other, prove clear and awe-inspiring dedication to their craft: a well deserved second ovation.

Grupo Corpo's Sem Mim and Ímã is a must see for dancers and non-dancers alike. It is a breathtaking journey through relationships, love, and longing, and a mesmerizing display of human prowess. The ten-year-olds in the seats in front of us were as intrigued as the elderly couple beside us. As the stories unfolded their whispers of interpretations were tantamount to the potency of the visual storytelling. 

Click on Grupo Corpo for tickets and times.

Comments are closed.

    theatre/
    dance

    Archives

    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    November 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    February 2011
    November 2010
    May 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.