seven or eight pieces for a Ballet and Breu were about as different as it is possible for a dance company to perform, yet the dancers brought these two pieces to life and danced them with grace, agility and sensuality.

seven starts with [...]]]> The second time seeing this Brazilian dance company, I was not disappointed.

seven or eight pieces for a Ballet and Breu were about as different as it is possible for a dance company to perform, yet the dancers brought these two pieces to life and danced them with grace, agility and sensuality.

seven starts with several couples on stage, moving sideways like automatons to a simple beat.  All of a sudden, one of the couples bursts into movement, in perfect sync.  On it goes for some 40 minutes, with dancers taking turns in pairs or several couples at a time, through several evolutions of the seemingly same but different piece – exciting, graceful and sinuous.

Breu has a very different feel.  A set and costumes of black and white foretell the stark, angular, edgy result of this piece.  Dancers fall to the ground quickly, then find their way to standing.  Amazing athleticism, beautifully danced.

National Arts Centre, March 21, 2009