Choreography by Luís Marrafa
Premiered on September 29th, 2017, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the “Quinzena de Dança de Almada – International Dance Festival”

The physical and intellectual capacities of the Human Being are extraordinary. However, they represent a normal existence that is on occasion disrupted by reports of humans exhibiting exceptional capabilities under certain circumstances. Comic books are inspired by the possibility of us being able to attain such superhuman abilities. In this universe, some individuals develop mutant characteristics and acquire powers that allow their bodies to overcome previously unsurpassed obstacles. At the same time, this gift leaves them exposed and defenseless in the face of the most deep-rooted fears and prejudices of our time, creating a dualistic tension between the hero figure and that of the condemned. Through movement, six dancers with exceptional characteristics share a common history, where this shock is staged and the fantastic universe unfolds in abstraction.

About the author

Luís Marrafa was born and lived in Schüttorf, Germany until he was nine. He moved to Évora in Portugal and later Lisbon, then London and presently lives and works in Brussels. From a very early age he showed a passion for drawing and dancing. Inspired by the artist Leonor Serpa Branco entered Escola Superior de Artes e Design in Caldas da Rainha, but quit the course after having seen “Pixel” by Portuguese choreographer Rui Horta. He has a degree from Escola Superior de Dança in Lisbon. And he’s the co-founder of the MARRAFA vzw dance company and StairCase.studio dance studio in Brussels. He creates and produces his own works as a choreographer, dancer and music/sound composer inspired by his own experiences, surroundings and different cultures, the highlights being his works “Unstable”, “Disquiet”, “IIB”, (in collaboration with António Cabrita was awarded Best photo in the VII Photo Competition in Barreiro, 2008), “Untitled”, (Best performance award at the Lisbon InShadow festival in 2012), “Abstand”, (nominated for best choreography by Prémio Autores SPA 2014) and “Home”, (selected by Aerowaves twenty company in 2016). Emphasizing the artists with whom he works, Karine Ponties, Rui Horta, António Cabrita and Tânia Carvalho.

Artistic overview

Choreography and music: Luís Marrafa
Wardrobe: Catarina Morla
Performers, (original cast): Beatriz Rousseau, Bruno Duarte, Francisco Ferreira, Joana Puntel, Luís Malaquias, Raquel Tavares (intern)
Choreographer’s assistant and rehearsal supervisor: Maria João Lopes
Lighting Design: Cláudia Rodrigues
Sound effects: José Pacheco

Tour

Casa Delle Culture e Della Musica, Velletri – Italy, July 10, 2021
Casa da Criatividade, S. João da Madeira - Portugal, April 29, 2021
Almada Forum, Almada - Portugal, October 4, 2019
Musikakademie, Bellmerin 37, Eupen - Belgium, September 1, 2019
Parc Marie-Louise (parque), Verviers - Belgium, August 31, 2019
Ferdinand-Schmetz-Platz (praça), Herzogenrath - Germany, August 30, 2019
Kaiserplatz (praça), Düren - Alemanha, August 30, 2018

Photos

60‘ | ages 12 and over