Benguelê is a celebration of the African culture and its deep and highly-influential roots in Brazilian culture. Effortlessly erasing any traces of classical dance technique from stage – even though it is the dancers’ rigorous classical training that underscores this complex choreography – Benguelê’s choreography always evokes Afro-Brazilian rhythms such as maracatu, candomblé and congado. Anarchy and frenzy replace symmetry and order on stage. Stomping feet and swaying hips, shoulders and crouches substitute for Pas-de-deux and fouettés. The rhythmic diversity is ignited by the inspired music of composer, singer and guitarist João Bosco. They are eleven themes – some have been especially created for the soundtrack, such as the title theme; some are recreations of classics such as Pixinguinha’s chorine 1x0; and others are pieces from Afro-Brazilian folklore such as Tarantá and Carreiro Bebe. Benguelê’s movements, at times festive or ritualistic, suggest tribal dances in which the representation of human figures, stooped with age or animalized, punctuate the performance.

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