Grupo Corpo dances its past and future
When Grupo Corpo takes to the Byham Theater stage on Wednesday, it will celebrate both past and present. For over 40 years, the company whose name translates as “Group Body” has been a symbol of Brazilian generosity and ingenuity.
The first of two pieces to be performed represents the troupe’s origins and was created for its recent 40th anniversary. “Danca Sinfonica” builds on a history that began with founder and artistic director Paulo Pederneiras in 1975. Grupo Corpo made its debut here for Pittsburgh Dance Council in 2003.
Mr. Pederneiras surrounded himself with family members. The company still boasts choreographer Rodrigo, technical director Pedro, choreographic assistant Miriam and technical cocoordinator Gabriel. As with most families, there are sometimes problems.
“Conflicts had always existed and will go on,” said Rodrigo Pederneiras. “But the fact of being a family made us learn how to overcome quickly our conflicts and how to forget it easily.”
All of them had a hand in “Danca Sinfonica,” which Paulo designed with a memorialist theme. The backdrop features images carefully chosen from more than a thousand photographs contributed by collaborators and influencers.
The score is also a patchwork of new and original music by composer Marco Antonio
Guimaraes, who a longtime has also collaborator worked with famed American minimalist Philip Glass. He founded the musical group Uakti, which uses traditional and invented instruments.
“Marco Antonio Guimaraes is a great Brazilian composer, and he also became a very good friend,” the choreographer said. “During his first compositions for Grupo Corpo, we worked very close together on the creation process. That developed a great intimacy between the to group, understand and the style.” making composer our [it] easier movements and Rodrigo tapped some of the troupe’s best choreographic segments for the piece and used transitions to connect them. One particular pas de deux holds a special special meaning because it “represents special moments of life,” he said. “Therefore it is very strong emotionally for me.” The second work, “Suite Branca,” gives the viewer an eye toward the future. It features choreography by a former company member, Cassi Abranches, and symbolizes the growth of the company.
White-clad dancers perform against a textured white backdrop that resembles a glacier. Yet “Suite Branca” is not cool. It’s white-hot with a score from Samuel Rosa, a composer and lead singer of the rock band Skank.