Today is opening day in the Camões Theatre . Or rather, it’s feast day. From 12 to March 29, commemorates the existence of one of the most iconic dance companies in Portugal: the Ballet Gulbenkian . A world premiere three pieces were chosen and is made. Ten years ago, the Ballet Gulbenkian closed, but their contribution to the national dance is still visible.
Who was the Ballet Gulbenkian ?
Ballet Gulbenkian established in October 1965 under the name of Gulbenkian Ballet Group . The first artistic director of the company was Walter Gore , which in the classical repertoire includes names like Serge Lifar and Leonide Massine . During his direction, the company also has a decisive role in the decentralization of dance shows with performances throughout the country, islands and overseas colonies. In 1969, also has its first international tour in Paris.
In 1970, the company has as artistic director Milko Sparemblek , which has previously collaborated with the company. The new director invests in the contemporary nature of repertoire and choreographic creation of Portuguese artists, such as Carlos Trenches or Jorge Armando. It also creates the Experimental Studios Choreography , which reveals one of the choreographers of this show: Wellenkamp Vasco . But the incentive would be not only to choreographers from the beginning that the company encouraged music artists such as Joly Braga Santos or artists as Júlio Resende .
The ballerina Grace Barroso with Hans van Manen , Jair Morais and Carlos Trenches
After a troubled period in 1974, in 1977, Jorge Salavisa assumes the artistic direction of the company, which forwards to a contemporary dance route. The season 1977/1978 is the last containing classic nature of parts. The company begins to have contact with the languages of Maurice Béjart or Hans van Manen . It is also for the direction of Salavisa that arise names like Olga Roriz , Welcome Fonseca or Vera Mantero and came Training Course Professional Dancers, which allowed the preparation of Portuguese dancers. The teaching in this course was complemented with international ballet masters. All this allowed the company to become in a short time mainly formed by Portuguese dancers. Also made possible greater visibility abroad, whether the quality of the dancers or the presented pieces
Thirteen gestures of a body Olga Roriz
After 19 years of direction Iracity Cardoso succeeds Jorge Salavisa . In 2003, Paulo Ribeiro becomes director and associate names like Rui Lopes Graça or Regina van Berkel to the company. The 2004/2005 season is the last submitted by the company, after the Board of Directors of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation announce the company’s extinction in June 2005.
After 10 years of its extinction, the National Ballet Company celebrates its dance with the selection of four pieces that characterize the identity of Ballet Gulbenkian
Thirteen gestures of a body :. every body, every gesture
Thirteen gestures of a body is one of the most emblematic pieces of Ballet Gulbenkian . The choreography belongs to Olga Roriz , one of the reference names Ballet Gulbenkian . Olga Roriz has joined the company in 1976 and started its activity as a choreographer in Choreographic Studio the Gulbenkian and left important parts as Real , Three Songs of Nina Hagen or Three gestures of a body .
This last piece, premiered in 1987, joins thirteen men the stage. The body of thirteen dancers from National Ballet Company is challenged to combine their movements in one, like a mirror and an attempt to find a common goal. But the search does not stop there, each dancer has his body and his gesture, like the cry or the blow. The various soils accumulate a last body. In the words of the choreographer: “. It is as if in each there was a change, a transformation of the movement, a continuation of the previous gesture” This is a piece with a very strong visual and noise impact will be the lights and beats of the doors or the dynamism in the body of the dancers.
Is it a star : the sound of Brazilian music dance to Grace Barroso
Vasco Wellenkamp , another of choreographers started in Experimental Studios Ballet Gulbenkian , creates the show’s debut. With music Tom Jobim , Vinicius de Moraes , Caetano Veloso and Edu Lobo , duets are a tribute to a the most iconic dancers of Ballet Gulbenkian :. Grace Barroso
At the sound of the singer Maria João and pianist John Flour three duets dance closely and with a very fluid movement. The complicity between their bodies expresses the dedication and commitment that Grace Barroso was in the dance world. One of his last works was the foundation of Portuguese Contemporary Dance Company along with Vasco Wellenkamp .
Twilight : a meeting at the going down of the sun
Twilight is a duet full of rhythm, which explores the relationship something confrontational of a couple. Played by Carlos Pinillos and Barbora Hruskova is a very mechanical and duet with some very marked movements. The very industrial setting and the score The Perilous Night prepared by John Cage provide a rhythmic character and it seems that the minutes count by the end of the setting sun. The dance is the means they use in their fight for love. Time passes and the pace will progress until the darkness arrives.
This is a choreography of Hans van Manen , one of the foreign artists more danced by Ballet Gulbenkian , who owns parts as Five Tangos , Songs Without Words or Grosse Fuge
Minus 16 :.? who does not like to dance
Minus 16 is first danced by National Ballet Company . The Ballet Gulbenkian danced the Minus 7 between 2002 and 2005. This was one of the last pieces danced by the company. It is also this piece that ends the show. This version has many surprises and promises to make everyone feel part of this tribute.
Minus 16 is choreographed by Ohad Naharin and have the essentials for this celebration. The body dynamics required the dancers, a soundtrack that ranges from traditional Israeli music to mambo Dean Martin and a duet that contrasts the more intimate tone, but that does not clash in the play. And of course, the famous improvised and fun movements are also not forgotten. This is definitely one of the peak moments of the show by the energy the dancers convey to the public.
A tribute to the Ballet Gulbenkian does not end on 29 March. The national tour starts on 10 and 11 April at 21.30 in the Rivoli Theatre . On April 18 he traveled to the Garcia de Resende Theatre in Evora. The Almada Municipal Theatre get the show on 17 and 18 July.
Photos of the show Tribute Program to Ballet Gulbenkian Bruno Simon
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