Choreographies by Ana Macara, Daniela Andana and Nuno Gomes
25th Anniversary Commemorative Programme, presented on the 26th September in the Teatro Municipal Joaquim Benite, Almada
To celebrate 25 years of existence, we present a new program in which it’s our intention to reflect different facets of our work. This show, in many parts, just like the story of Companhia de Dança de Almada, presents three choreographers in different life cycles.
“Elevado a 4” (2000), excerpts
To revive this piece created in 2000, I recall the desire to bring to public the existentialist environment that so marked the twentieth century. Key authors of literature and the arts, not forgetting the magic of Edith Piaf as a bastion, singing of the deepest roots and the significance of human existence formed the basis of this work. Developing the relationship between music and movement, between the more formal elements and meaning of words, various universes are presented in a voluntary exposure of a feminine inwardness and experience.
A.M.
About the Coreographer
Ana Macara began her training in classical dance, working with Anna Mascolo until 1973. After which she worked in Jazz and contemporary dance in Paris, London and New York.
She was a founder and choreographer of the Grupo Experimental de Dança Jazz. She founded and directed Grupo de Dança Atitudes e Movimentos. She developed her work in several shows for theater, television and multimedia. In Belgium she choreographed for Danscompagnie Francine De Veylder.
In 1987 she finished her MA in Dance from the University of North Carolina and in 1994 the European Doctorate in Dance at FMH.
Since 1991 she’s collaborated with Companhia de Dança de Almada as a guest choreographer, having created nine pieces and various training projects. She participated in the conception and direction of Quinzena da Dança de Almada.
A retired teacher from Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, where she taught for over 30 years. She represented Portugal in the Consultative Commission of DaCi and was a member of the Executive board for Dance of Elia (European League of Institutes of the Arts).
Currently a researcher of INET-MD, she’s developed numerous research projects in the field of dance and published and presented at national and international conferences.
Artistic and technical data
Choreography: Ana Macara
Music: N. Glanzberg, H. Giraud, M. Monnot, C. Dumont, performed by Edith Piaf
Wardrobe: Ana Macara
Lighting design: José Rui Silva and Ana Macara
Performance: Daniela Andana, Joana Puntel, Mariana Romão and a special participation by students from Escola da Companhia de Dança de Almada, Íris Fonseca, Maria Inês Costa and Rita Pires
Photos:
“Não Lugar” (2015), excerpt
For there to be movement it is necessary to apply force on a given body. The force applied depends on the body weight applying force. The resulting speed of interaction between objects and or bodies is variable depending on the point where the force was applied. At a given space, the greater the number of bodies, the greater the likelihood of interaction between these bodies, creating force and speed.
About the Coreographer
Daniela Andana is currently studying for her Master’s degree in Artes Cénicas at Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, she has a degree in Physical Education from Faculdade de Motricidade Humana (2005), and in Dance from Escola Superior de Dança (2008), having completed the last semester in Danshogskolan, Sweden, where she worked with Camilla Ekelof.
At the Faculdade de Motricidade Humana she participated in Projecto Eurodanse, choreographed by Wayne McGregor, with a final presentation in Ireland in 2002.
In Escola Superior de Dança, performed pieces by the following choreographers: Rui Horta, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Mercê Cunningham, Marta Graham, Vasco Valenkamp, and worked professionally with Amélia Bentes, Claire Pençak and Ludger Lamers.
She has participated in workshops/performances with the following teachers and choreographers: Cristina Planas Leitão, Hélder Seabra, Filipa Francisco, Margarida Mestre, Teresa Ranieri, Maria José Bernardino, Peter Michael Dietz, Luís Xarez, Amélia Bentes, Stephan Jurgens, Arlett Huntz, Will Swanson, and Natalia Timonaeva.
As a professional dancer she took part in performances for children between 2006 and 2011. In 2010, she joined Companhia de Dança de Almada as a professional dancer, where she remains to this day.
As a choreographer she created “Para Além da Imagem”, (2009) and “Acasos”, (2011). In 2011, she co-authored the piece “Galileu” with Beatriz Rousseau, which debuted during the 19th Quinzena de Dança de Almada. She also presented this work in Sesimbra, Lisbon, Coimbra and Zagreb.
Artistic and technical data
Choreography: Daniela Andana
Music: Portishead, Maxence Cyrin
Text: Nitin Sawhney
Wardrobe: Vanessa Monteiro
Performance: Bruno Duarte, Joana Puntel, Luís Malaquias, Mariana Romão and Miguel Santos
Created at the invitation of Casa da Cerca – Centro de Arte Contemporânea, under the collective exhibition “Viagem”, (2015)
Photos:
“Olhares” (2010), new version
From the vast marshlands to the extensive arid and golden Alentejo countryside, the landscape of calm seems inseparable from an unimaginable heritage.
The piece “Olhares” (Perspectives), was created in the year during which Companhia de Dança de Almada celebrated 20 years of activity.
The choreographer was then challenged to shape the idea of “dancing Alentejo”, from a partnership with several choirs.
In constant search of ways to involve the community with dance, Nuno Gomes was set the new challenge in 2015 of bringing to the stage traditions, knowledge, practices, the representation of the intrinsic connection workers have to the land and the song - interweaving it into a dance performance.
A new show “Olhares”, was thus created where the landscapes, crafts and music are the starting point for the choreography, rich in traditional knowledge that bind and interact with contemporary dance.
About the Choreographer
Nuno Gomes began his dance studies in 1998. He has worked with Companhia de Dança do Tejo, (the Tagus Dance Company), Companhia de Bailado da Madeira, (Madeira Ballet Company), Centro Coreográfico de Valência, (Choreographic Center of Valencia), and Lisboa Ballet Contemporâneo, (Lisbon Contemporary Ballet). Since 2006 he has been with Companhia de Dança de Almada, (Dance Company of Almada).
He has worked with various teachers and choreographers, namely Vítor Linhares, Guilherme Dias, Palmira Camargo, Maria Palmeirim, José Grave, Pascale, Vitor Garcia, David Fielding, Patrick de Bana, Cristina Graça, Thomas Noone, Benvindo de Fonseca, Gagik Ismailian. Highlights have included roles in “O Banco”, “Acirfa”, “Aman”, “Uma noite com Ella”, “Salcapate”, “Makeba”, “Para que a terra não esqueça”, “Castanheda”, “Callas”, “Casa do Rio” and “Muito Chão”.
He choreographed “Dancing for pleasure” for Companhia de Bailado da Madeira; “Entre a Necessidade e o Medo”, (2008), “Olhares” (2010) and “Jogos de Letras” (2012) for Companhia de Dança de Almada.
Artistic and technical data
Choreography: Nuno Gomes
Music: Pedro Caldeira Cabral, Arvo Part
Music editing and montage: Nuno Gomes
Wardrobe: Fauze El Kadre and Nuno Gomes
Performance: Bruno Duarte, Daniela Andana, Joana Puntel, Luís Malaquias, Nuno Gomes, Mariana Romão and Miguel Santos
Special participation: Grupo Coral e Etnográfico Amigos do Alentejo do Feijó
Photos:
Choreographic assistant and rehearsal supervisor: Maria João Lopes
Lighting design: Cláudia Rodrigues
Sound: José Pacheco
