The Joyce Theater to Welcome Sao Paulo Dance Company, 5/3-8

The Joyce Theater Foundation, Inc. (Linda Shelton, Executive Director) is thrilled to present São Paulo Dance Company, one of Latin America's major dance companies,in its debut engagement at The Joyce Theater from May 3 - 8. Tickets range in price from $35-$50 and can be purchased at www.Joyce.org, or by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800. Please note: ticket prices are subject to change. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street. For more information, please visit www.Joyce.org.

São Paulo Dance Company, whoserepertoire ranges from the classical to the contemporary,wasfounded in 2008 by the Government of the State of São Paulo. The company is led by artistic director Inês Bogéa, who besidespossessing a Ph.D. in Arts, is a former dancer with the acclaimed Brazilian company Corpo Grupo and is a documentary filmmaker and writer as well. The Company's Joyce Theater debut will consist of four pieces - the U.S. debut of Gen choreographed by Cassi Abranches, the U.S. debut of Céu Cinzento choreographed by Clébio Oliveira, the U.S. debut of Mamihlapinatapai choreographed by Jomar Mesquita, and Gnawa choreographed by Nacho Duato (last presented at the Joyce Theatre by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in May 2015).

Gen, created byformer Corpo Grupo dancer Cassi Abranches and featuring 14 dancers, is set to an original soundtrack by Brazilian artists Marcelo Jeneci and Zé Nigro. Clébio Oliveira's Céu Cinzento, (Gray Sky) is a contemporary ballet duet set to original music by Matteo Niccolai. Drawing inspiration from such tragic love stories as Romeo and Juliet, Mr. Oliveira's workposes the question, "What would the course of these tragic lovers be if they were to become blind instead of dying?" Originating from the indigenous language Yaphank, Mamihlapinatapai describes the look shared by two people when each is wishing that the other would make a move that would lead to a romantic entanglement. This contemporary ballet for 8 dancers created by Jomar Mesquita deals with the desires of men and women and examines what happens after a mamihlapinatapai look is exchanged. Gnawa, a contemporary ballet created by Nacho Duato, uses four basic elements - water, earth, fire and air - to address the relationship between humans and the universe.

Performances of São Paulo Dance Company will take place from May 3 to May 8 at The Joyce Theater (175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street) according to the following schedule: Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30pm; Thursday and Friday at 8:00pm; Saturday at 2:00pm and 8:00pm; Sunday at 2:00pm. Curtain Chat, a free post-performance talkback with the artists, will take place on Wednesday, May 4. This enlightening discussion is open to all patrons attending that evening's performance. Tickets range in price from $35-$50 and can be purchased at www.Joyce.org, or by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800. Please note: ticket prices are subject to change. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street. For more information, please visit www.Joyce.org.

Created in January 2008 by the Government of the State of Sao Paulo, São Paulo Dance Company (SPDC) is directed by Inês Bogéa, Ph.d., ballerina, documentary maker and writer. The SPDC presents performances in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil and abroad. Since 2008, 400,000 people in 11 different countries, in approximately 60 cities, have seen the Company in over more than 450 performances. The Company has a varied repertoire, ranging from classical to contemporary. Recognized by critics as one of the main dance companies of Latin America, since its creation, SPDC has produced 41 choreographies: 24 creations (such as The Seasons by Édouard Lock; Peekaboo, by Marco Goecke; O Sonho de Dom Quixote, by Marcia Haydée) and 17 restagings (such as Petite Mort, by Jirí Kylián, Theme and Variarions, by George Balanchine; In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, by Wilian Forsythe). Dance has many stories and to reveal some of them, the Company created the documentary series Figuras da Dança (Dance Personalities), which features the art told by those who lived it. The Educational and Audience Formation Programs, another strand of action of SPDC, are divided into Lecture For Educators, Dance Workshops, Open Performance for Students and Senior Citizens, Dança em Rede (Dance Network), among others. The Company is a meeting place of distinct artists - such as choreographers, light designers, photographers, guest lecturers, restagers, writers, artists, cartoonists, musicians, costume designers and others. - | www.spcd.com.br