Next March, the Companhia de Dança de Almada will once again present the children's and youth show "Quimera," by choreographer Bruno Duarte, to schools in Almada.
The three sessions are intended for school groups from the 4th grade onwards, and admission is free, subject to prior booking.
“Quimera” (Chimera), by choreographer and dancer Bruno Duarte, is the story of a silent struggle, ought from within, where each fragment carries the memory of the questions that the character, Ari, and so many other young people, ask about the future, justice, and what it means to grow up.
Taking as a starting point the book "The Huge Bag of Worries", by Virginia Ironside, and inspired by real conversations with children and young people, this performance stands as an act of resistance and sharing, adapted to younger audiences by addressing the themes with joy and irreverence.
In "Quimera", young Ari's worries manifest themselves in a palpable way, transforming into objects that adhere to his head like invisible shadows that slowly gain shape and weight. Each object, a distinct concern, is like a fragment of an inner chimera that grows and feeds on fears and anxieties.
The choreographer thus proposes a deep reflection that addresses important topics in a playful and fun way, such as mental health and anxiety of new generations in relation to subjects such as environmental issues, of social justice and even of political nature.
In short, this piece offers young audiences a powerful message: everyone has worries, but these do not need to be faced alone, nor in a heavy, dense and overwhelming way. After all, to dismantle a chimera is a job that can never be done alone!
Bruno Duarte is currently the resident choreographer of the Companhia de Dança de Almada, which he has been a part of since 2013. Until 2025, he was a dancer and guest choreographer for the company's various casts, standing out for its successful circulation in Portugal and abroad with the creations “Fobos” (2017), “SubRosa” (2018), and “Inverno” (2019). In this company, he is also the author of the project Itinerant Choreographic Laboratory, for which he created "Dentro do Abraço" (2016) and “SCENA” (2022). He was a guest professor at the Escola Superior de Dança (2016 and 2019), is a professor at Ca.DA Escola, and a guest choreographer for the Quórum Project, among other projects.
“Quimera” will be presented to schools in Almada on March 25th at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM, and on March 26th at 10:30 AM, at the Auditório Osvaldo Azinheira - Academia Almadense. Group bookings can be made by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Feb. 11, 2026
