Downtown Variety: Brazil Edition

Marcus Galinã and The Collective Companhia Monte de Gente emerged from the Brazilian Public University. Within the UFRJ’s Theater Directing course, Galiña mobilized a group of artists that performed twice inside the University and, from there, went forward in the city scene: Mundo Grampeado – Uma Opera Tecno-Tosca (“Wiretapped World – A Techno-Precarious Opera”in a literal translation) performed in more than 10 theaters around the city, in many different versions over the years, like in a cabaret, always updating the script of the play with recent political events. The Collective then performed the children’s musical play “Aninha against the Sorcerer of Lixoxx” and another two musicals with the youth of the favela of Vila Cruzeiro “Dreams, a funk opera” and “Tuba Tuba and the Kingdom of the Volcano”. They developed a Collective Dramaturgy Online tool (which worked within the Facebook platform. Currently developing text and music for the new contemporary opera project called “O Cálice Botocudo” or “The Indigenous Chalice”). https://www.instagram.com/marcusgalina

Neville D’Almeida was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 1941. A filmmaker and visual artist, his first films encapsulated the zeitgeist of avant-garde movements from the 1960s-70s, and were apprehended and prohibited by the Brazilian military dictatorship. D’Almeida later gained status of box office champion in his home country on account of features such as “A Dama do Lotação” and “Rio Babilônia”. Internationally, he’s best known for “Bloco-Experiences in Cosmococa – program in progress”, a series of projects conceived with Hélio Oiticica which predicted the concept of art installations. https://www.instagram.com/nevilledalmeida

Otavio Donasci lives and works in São Paulo, Brazil, as multimedia performer, creative director, and as experimental theater director. Also is PHD in Comunication and Semiotic. Teaches Performing Arts. In the early eighties he created The Video Creatures, that perform wearing electronic video masks assembled over the actor supplying a pre-recorded video face. Otávio Donasci has been invited to perform at the most important Brazilian Art Festivals (Videobrasil and São Paulo International Biennial) and in diverse cities around the world: New York, Paris, Berlin, Montreal and Lisbon. In the nineties he developed with theatrical director Ricardo Karman, The Experimental Multimedia Expeditions, mixing interactive performance, theater, and tourism. For more informations about VideoCreatures see: https://youtu.be/NYHF6FrGG84

Christina Fornaciari is an artist and art researcher interested in Performance Art. She holds a PhD in Theatre from the Federal University of Bahia and a Masters Degree in Performance from Queen Mary University of London. Approaching themes that intertwine social, racial, autobiographical and gender issues, she also uses vídeo and photography as resources for developing her work. She has performed in events in Brazil and abroad, in countries such as China, Mexico, Italy, England, USA, Uruguay and Ecuador. More information: http://cargocollective.com/christinafornaciari

Pedro Granato is a director, actor, playwright and theater teacher with a degree in Cinema and Video from ECA-USP. Selected for Directors LAB with directors from around the world at Lincoln Center in New York in 2014. He is the actor-creator of the show “País Clandestino” presented at FIBA in Buenos Aires (ARG) and Santiago (CHI), at MIT in São Paulo ( BRA), at the Festival of Dijon (FRA), Almada (POR) and Guadalajara (MEX) and many other awarded plays. He is the Director of Cultural Centres and Theatres in the city of São Paulo and runs the theatre Pequeno Ato. https://www.instagram.com/pedrogranato

Gabriela Leite was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she started her studies of Classical Ballet at the state dance school Maria Olenewa, studied Modern Dance, Jazz, Contemporary dance. She is graduated in Physiotherapy and Pilates. Master student in Performing Arts at UFG. Developing her independent work as an author, and creative interpreter in various artistic projects, among them, the training project “A Arte do Mover” (the art of moving). Participated in festivals in Brazil and abroad with the Companies Nós da Dança, Laso Dance Co., Focus Dance Co., Motoperpetuo Dance Co. (CH) and Quasar Dance Co. Versatility is characteristic on her work. Experienced by her, as performer in works on television, theater, concerts including Rio de Janeiro’s carnival, artistic residencies, such as Play Practice Residence (IN), and with choreographer Morena Nascimento. https://www.instagram.com/gabrielaleitelima

Rui Moreira is a dance artist and cultural researcher. He acts as a creative interpreter and creator. He is a social activist for life. https://ruimoreiraciadedancas.blogspot.com/p/rui-moreira.html

Lenerson Polonini is a theater director, light designer and producer. A researcher and a hybrid visual, and performative theater. He founded the Companhia Nova de Teatro and developed researches on the work of Samuel Beckett and on the visual scene of the 20th century. Polonini directed “Act without Words I and II” in 2001, “Beckett in Repertorie” with participation of the actor Paulo César Pereio, “Berceuse”, French version of “Rockaby”, with Renée Gumiel in 2002 and “Beckett in Repertorie 2” in 2003, “Beckett in Repertorie 3” and “Ulysses” in 2005. In 2015/17, he directed Foreman Trilogy Project  (Bad Boy Nietzsche, Old- Fashioned Prostitutes and The Gods Are Pounding My Head) by Richard Foreman with support from Secretary of Culture of São Paulo State and SESC São Paulo. In 2019, he directed the “Kassandra Hecuba” project, a work in progress in Analogio Festival in Athens, 25 Ore Theatre Festival Non Stop ( Sibiu),  and Teatrul de Artã, in Bucarest, both in Romania. He is Brazilian Cultural Ambassador of La MaMa. https://www.cianovadeteatro.com/

Wilson Sukorski is a composer, electronic musician, multimedia performer, creator / producer of musical content for radio / video / cinema, designer and builder of unusual musical instruments and researcher in digital audio. – Works intensively in various musical activities in Brazil and abroad. Composes for cinema, experimental videos, audio art installations, urban art, art and new media; in addition to performing as a musical performer in monoband shows and performances in Brazil and with a strong international career. More information: http://www.sukorski.art/

Jurandy Valença was born in Maceió, Alagoas, and has been living in São Paulo since 1990. In these almost 30 years, he has worked in the most diverse areas of culture. He lived and worked with famous author Hilda Hilst [1930-2004], of whom he was an advisor and friend, being project director of the Hilda Hilst Institute 20 years after living in Casa do Sol, a place where the writer and poet lived and became a cultural institute. He participated in more than 70 exhibitions, between individual and collectives. He received awards and acquisitions and did several curatorships. https://www.instagram.com/juravalenca7

‍