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Companhia Urbana de Dança
The Next Evolution of Urban Dance
Dynamic. Vital. Poetic. Explosive. Let me introduce you to Companhia Urbana de Dança – a Brazilian urban dance company brought together in 2004 to embrace life and share their experiences through dance.
Composed of eight immensely talented young men from the suburbs and favelas of Rio de Janeiro, this group has stirred quite a lot of attention and excitement from fans and critics worldwide since their first U.S appearance in New York City last fall when they performed ID: ENTIDADES. Already named one of Time Out New York’s “Top Ten” Dance programs, this group can put on quite a show.
Director, Sonia Destri, a rising choreographer well known and respected in Brazil and Europe, will return to the U.S this month with dancers: Johnny Britto, Miguel Fernandez, Leonardo Galvão, Julio Rocha, Raphael Russier Felipe, Tiago Sousa, André “Feijão” Virgilio, and Bruno Williams.
Destri is best known for turning standard hip-hop into something much more mysterious, creative, and complex, while proving that dance can have endless possibilities. She has indeed invented a new choreographic language within the arts. Destri adds, “Our legs are in Rio, our minds are in Los Angeles and Lapa, and our arms are stretched between New York and Favela to Turano, Tijuca!”
Appearing in New Jersey, Peak Performances will welcome this South American group to the Alexander Kasser Theater at Montclair State University the weekend of September 22nd. A series of performances will be given, which includes the American premiere of Chapa Quente (Portuguese for “Hot Plate” – in which samba is interwoven with hip-hop) and ID: ENTIDADES.
ID: ENTIDADES incorporates Brazil’s cultural roots and the gritty life stories of the dancers themselves. It uniquely mixes three styles of dance: urban, contemporary, and hip-hop making for a very powerful and moving experience. According to Destri, “It is the most inventive, complex and thought-provoking performance I have ever seen.”
Chapa Quente is pure adrenaline, filled with raw energy, speed, and cultural pride. Similar to ID: ENTIDADES, it blends together contemporary/street dances while exploring the vitality of these young men. The smooth and gentle movements of the dancers against the electric beat and lighting make for a mesmerizing experience.
The schedule is as follows: September 22 & 23 at 7:30pm, September 24 at 8pm, and September 25 at 3pm. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased here.