Choreography by Benvindo Fonseca
Season 2013 Programme, premiered at October 12, 2013, in the Municipal Forum Luísa Todi in Setúbal, in coproduction with the Municipal Forum Luísa Todi and the Teatro de Vila Real.
«Muito Chão is the final part in a trilogy commemorating thirty years of my career.
The three choreographed pieces [Edzer (Africa), Casa do Rio (Portugal) and Muito Chão (India)] are linked by the common theme of searching for a home: one in which you'll find real people. Where, at times, you'll find each other. (...) In Muito Chão I look at India which also is part of me and I find difficult to describe yet feel it in my heart. A land with its own colours, gestures, tastes, smell and customs. There's such a social divide between wealthy and poor - in India one sees rituals, Deities and great knowledge and yet also people who not only have nothing but also give value to nothing – such an important quality, valued in the east but almost ignored in the west.
It's one more work where I'm looking for me, myself. A feeling I can't escape. To make the public share the emotion. It's how, simply by creating a sensorial moment, dance exists in its most pure essence – the movement, never taking away the emotion and intent.» Benvindo Fonseca
About the author
Benvindo Fonseca studied at the Conservatório Nacional de Lisboa, Escola da Fundação Gulbenkian and in New York, London and Paris. He has danced with Grupo Sétima Posição as soloist in the Dance Company of Lisbon, and as soloist with the Gulbenkian Ballet where he held the position as lead dancer, working with Mats Ek, Jiri Kylian, Hans Van Manem, Orad Naharin, Itzik Galili, Vasco Wellenkamp, Olga Roriz, Paul Taylor, Christopher Bruce, Nacho Duato and others.
He co-founded and was Artistic Director / Choreographer of Lisboa Ballet Contemporâneo choreographing "Uma Noite com Ella Fitzgerald", "Callas", "Mermúrio", "Onigen", "Casa de Bernarda Alba" and "Mar" with music performed live by Madredeus.
Benvindo also has choreographed performances for the Teatro D. Maria II, "O Bando" and Teatro Experimental do Porto. Has choreographed for the Ballet Gulbenkian, Companhia de Bailado Contemporâneo, Companhia de Dança de Almada, Companhia de Dança de Évora, for the Conservatório Nacional, Escola Superior de Dança, Academia de Dança Clássica Pirmin Treku, Stadttheater Hildesheim and Berlin Opera, (Germany), and Compañía Úrsula López.
Highlights include dancing solo accompanying acclaimed pianist Maria João Pires performing Tchaikovsky's "Arabian Dance" and the pas de deux to the Fado song "Povo que lavas no rio" live in the presence of Amalia Rodrigues. (Lisbon, 1997). He also choreographed "Romeu e Julieta" (2013).
He's participated in International Galas in São Pantaleo, Madrid, Seville and Miami. His ballets have been performed in Spain, Italy, Germany, the U.S.A, Cuba, Brasil, Greece, Poland, Argentina, Dominican Republic and Mexico. He regularly participates in the Iberian Contemporary Festival, (Querétaro), Mexico.
Among his many awards the following stand out: Youth Creativity with the UN (1993); being made a goodwill ambassador of that institution, (honorary); career achievement award presented by the Associação Primo-Canto (2002); career achievement award presented by the Câmara Municipal de Oeiras and Revista Dança (2009); award for the choreographic project "Ciranda", presented by the Câmara Municipal de Oeiras (2010).
He was honoured in the Gala de Estrellas, (Santo Domingo), Dominican Republic (2012) and upon the occasion of celebrating 30 years of his career during the Quinzena de Dança de Almada, completing the last piece of his trilogy - "Edzer", "Casa do Rio", and "Muito Chão" (2013).
Artistic overview
Choreography, music and video research: Benvindo Fonseca
Music: Carlos Mil-Homens (original score performed live), Amadeus Mozart, Edward Elgar, Remember Shakti, Ravi Shankar, Thukunulu Churhah & Vetalhulu Sapu, Henry Purcell, António Chainho
Scenery: Carmo Garcia
Wardrobe: Fauze El Kadre
Lighting design: Cláudia Rodrigues
Performers (original cast): Beatriz Rousseau, Bruno Duarte, Carla Jordão, Daniela Andana, Mariana Romão, Miguel Santos, Nuno Gomes, Sofia Silva
Choreographic assistant: Maria João Lopes
Performance of live music: Carlos Mil-Homens or Sebastian Scheriff
Sound and video design: José Pacheco
Technical Assistant: Alexandre Candeias
Review
Álvaro Teixeira, in Psicanálises, October 2013
"There were moments, (Elgar, it should be noted, is not on the list of "my" 20 greatest composers, and Purcell, ditto), when I felt like closing my eyes. And yet Benvindo managed to capture the public's attention due to the contrast between the power of music and the playful, almost ridiculous, movement of the dancer. It reminded me of the mocking irony in some of the allegretos from Shostakovich's symphonies... (...) The company, at its own performance level demonstrated an amazing technical and interpretive level. So I'm grateful for what they do and I encourage them never to stop, (and not to let anyone else stop them). " Álvaro Teixeira | entire article: link, pdf
Vera Amorim, in Dance Europe, December 2013
"(...) Recognised for his exquisite musicality and delightful quality of movement, he [Benvindo Fonseca] did not disappoint and applied all his experience to this choreography, which was performed by the Companhia de Dança de Almada, who gave a powerful and very honest performance." | entire article: pdf
Cineteatro Municipal de Castro Verde, Castro Verde - Portugal, May 15, 2015
Cineteatro Sobral de Monte Agraço, Monte Agraço - Portugal, May 9, 2015
Auditório Municipal Augusto Cabrita, Barreiro - Portugal, May 2, 2015
Centro Cultural do Redondo, Redondo - Portugal, March 28, 2015
Cineteatro João D'Oliva Monteiro, Alcobaça - Portugal, February 7, 2015
Auditório do Museu do Oriente - Portugal, December 20, 2014
Casa da Cultura - Teatro Stephans, Marinha Grande - Portugal, December 13, 2014
Teatro Municipal de Bragança, Bragança - Portugal, September 27, 2014
Auditório Fernando Lopes Graça-Parque Palmela, Cascais - Portugal, July 12, 2014
Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra - Portugal, January 31, 2014
Cineteatro Municipal João Mota, Sesimbra - Portugal, January 18, 2014
Teatro Municipal de Almada - Portugal, December 20, 2013
Teatro de Vila Real - Portugal, November 9, 2013
Centro Cultural Malaposta - Portugal, October 26, 2013
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Photos
| Video |
Approx. 70' | ages 6 and over
