Na Onda da Distância :: Rafael Alvarez

We are pleased to announce that "Na onda da distância" is now performing at Carpintarias de São Lázaro - Cultural Center.

Synopsis:

"On either side, two bodies silently sail through a fragile dance that is wave and tide of meetings and mismatches. Near and far, the two divers find themselves in an invisible dialogue of memories and stories that, despite not belonging to us, invade our imaginations. A paper show created from an open dance of senses and immersions in other readings - far and near, rather near than far, east and west, the two performers from both sides of the ocean, bring to the surface a sea of illusions. In the wave of distance and at the distance of an oncoming wave, they discover and reveal shadows and ghosts. In their floating bodies and worlds, desires of invisible written and breathed memories sink, in the silence of the empty space of the paper stage that hides and reveals the movement that embraces them. And in the interval of a wave they give way to the encounter (of another wave)."

An initial image motivates the creation of this project, remaining invisible but present - "The Great Kanawaga Wave", an iconic work by the Japanese painter Hokusai. Created in 1830 it was reproduced from mid 1870 onwards through a series of lithographs using the traditional Japanese printing technique known as ukiyo (literally, "floating world").

The Wave Project continues the research and choreographic creation undertaken by choreographer Rafael Alvarez in Japan, in 2017, supported by DGARTES. In addition to the creation and premiere in Portugal and Japan, it includes the duet "Na onda da distância" and the national and international presentation of the solo "No intervalo de uma onda" (2017). It also includes a number of creation, presentation and training activities (residencies, shows, labs and workshops) held in Portugal, France, Japan and Malaysia. These activities have locally brought together professional artists and higher artistic education students, dancers with functional diversity, dancers over 55 years old and seniors in the presentation of different creations connected to the community. In this context, we highlight the premiere of the inclusive dance show "No silêncio da primeira onda" (February 20, Teatro Municipal de São Luís, INARTE - Community Arts festival) as a result of a collaboration between Bodybuilders / Rafael Alvarez and Plural_Companhia de Dança / Fundação LIGA, in partnership with the Escola Superior de Dança / Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. This performance will have the collaboration of dancers with and without disabilities and graduated students of the Escola Superior de Dança.


This year the performance was also premiered in Japan, where choreographer and performer Rafael Alvarez returned for the third consecutive year, now as part of the programming of TPAM 2019 - Performing Arts Meeting in Yokohama.
This duet, created across Portugal, France, Malaysia and Japan, in collaboration with Japanese performer Yuta Ishikawa, and developed in the context of the Projecto Wave, was also presented on February 13 and 14 at the Wakabacho WHARF in Yokohama.
The show had its national premiere in Ílhavo, and was also presented in Porto, Barreiro, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok.


BIO:

Rafael Alvarez
Born in Lisbon in 1976, where he lives and works. Choreographer and performer, scenographer and costume designer, researcher and teacher.

His work has been performed since 1997 in Europe, South and North America, Middle East, Asia and Africa. In the last 20 years he has researched and developed a plastic dimension of movement and composition, revealing a strong visual component in the construction of body-space and choreographic language. His performances stand out for their enigmatic, symbolic, poetic and minimalist use of body, dance and space. He has deeply studied the relationship between dance and community as well as the collaborative dimension of artistic practice in its dialogue and intervention with the world. Since 1998 he has been teaching Contemporary Dance - Improvisation/Composition and Inclusive Dance. He has been developing educational projects with students and dance professionals, people with disabilities, seniors, people with Parkinson's disease, children and artists in general. He has performed in shows and projects directed by several choreographers: Francisco Camacho/EIRA (PT), Christian Rizzo (FR), Lynda Gaudreau/Lucky Bastards (CN/FR), Luís Castro/Karnart, among others. He holds a PhD in Communication, Culture and Art - Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais, UALG. A Post-graduation study in Communication Sciences - Contemporary Culture - Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa. A Bachelor's degree in Performing Arts, Theatre and Education - Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema IPL. A Scholarship, awarded by Centro Nacional de Cultura in the Dance/Creation field (2000-2002). Integrated Researcher CHAIA - Centro de História de Arte e Investigação Artística. He was a sponsored by O Rumo do Fumo (2000-04). He was an associate artist of EIRA - Dança Contemporânea e Performance (2005-2016). Co-founder of ANKA Companhia de Dança Inclusiva de São Tomé e Príncipe. Co-founder and artistic director of BODYBUILDERS - Dança Contemporânea.

Yuta Ishikawa
Born in Japan in 1983, currently lives and works in Paris. Is a performer and creator of contemporary dance. Began the studies in Japan and concluded the dance training in the Extensions, an advanced professional training program at the CDC - Centre de Development Chorégraphique de Toulouse in France. Holds a certificate in Cultural Studies from Obirin University in Tokyo, Japan. Through his company e.g.MILK, choreographed the following productions: Dust Park 2 and 26.5 presented between 2010 and 2012 in Tokyo and Frankfurt. Reached the finals of MASDANZA 17 (Canary Islands) and TOYOTA CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD 2010 (Tokyo). Was awarded the prize for best choreography at the KOREA INT. DANCE COMPETITION 2010 (Seoul). As a performer, worked with the choreographers: Fabrice Ramaligom (My petit Pogo, 2012- 2017), Rita Cioffi (Faux Semblant, 2016, Let's Play, 2014 and Nous Autres, 2011), Franck Vigroux (Ruines, 2016), Raimund Hoghe (Quartet, 2015 and Cantatas, 2013), Samuel Mathieu (La Dynamique des Emotions, 2014 and Generix-X, 2010), Christian Rizzo (Erwartung, 2010), Chie Ito / Strange Kinoko Dance Company (2008-09), Jo Kanamori / Noism Dance Company (2006-08).


Artistic and technical credits:
Artistic direction, choreography, set and costumes: Rafael Alvarez Performing: Rafael Alvarez and Yuta Ishikawa
Technical direction and light design: Nuno Patinho
Production and administration: Bodybuilders / Rafael Alvarez
Financial management: Sara Lamares
Press Office: Mafalda Simões
Stage Photography: Elisabeth Vieira Alvarez
Video recording and editing: Bruno Canas
Graphic design: Paulo Guerreiro
Co-production: 23 Milhas - Ílhavo and Bodybuilders / Rafael Alvarez
Residencies: Le Carreau du Temple (Paris), Ryogoku Bear (Tokyo), Rimbun Dahan (Malaysia), Estúdios Vitor Córdon / CNB (Lisbon), O Espaço do Tempo (Montemor-o-Novo)
Support / Hosting: Carpintarias de São Lázaro (Lisbon), Citemor Festival (Coimbra), MIRA Artes Performativas (Porto), Auditório Municipal Augusto Cabrita (Barreiro), 23 Milhas / Teatro Vista Alegre (Ílhavo), Ryogoku Bear (Tokyo), Micadanses (Paris), TPAM Peforming Arts Meeting (Yokohama), Wakabacho Wharf (Yokohama).
Partnerships: FIAR (Palmela), Escola Superior de Dança/IPL (Lisbon), Escola de Artes/Universidade de Évora (Évora), Escola Superior de Arte e Design - Caldas da Rainha/IPL (Caldas da Rainha), CHAIA - Centro de História de Arte e Investigação Artística, Fundação LIGA/Plural_Companhia de Dança, EIF (E) - Escola Informal de Fotografia (Espectáculo)
Support: Camões - Portuguese Cultural Center in Tokyo / Portuguese Embassy in Tokyo
Support to internationalization: Gulbenkian Foundation
Projeto WAVE: supported by the Portuguese Republic - Culture / Direção Geral das Artes.