Brazil’s world-renowned contemporary dance ensemble Grupo Corpo returns to Boston for the first time since 2018 with a program that shows off uniquely Brazilian cultural elements and aesthetics. 

Gira, created in 2017, evokes rituals from the Umbanda religious practice, a uniquely Brazilian faith blending West African and Catholic spiritual practice that originated in Rio de Janeiro in the 1920s. Choreographer Rodrigo Pederneiras merges celebrants’ spinning movements and ritual gestures with his deep background in contemporary dance to create a profound and compelling statement about humanity’s relationship to the divine or the supernatural.   

Gil Refazendo, with choreography by Rodrigo Pederneiras, takes as its inspiration the music of Gilberto Gil, the Bahian composer, performer, and activist called “the godfather of Brazilian music.” Gil was created in 2019 but was completely reworked in 2022 into Gil Refazendo: the music and dance are renewed, reimagined, and rebuilt in response to the pandemic years. Experience iconic Brazilian songs in a new way with this high-energy, uplifting work!