São Paulo Dance Company, Sadler's Wells

For its UK and Ireland debut tour São Paulo Dance Company has picked a triple bill of work that builds on its 22 dancers' technical prowess and infectious joy.

Two very different Spanish choreographers, Goyo Montero and Nacho Duato, and one Brazilian, Cassi Abranches, have all sought inspiration in Latin culture, but come up with three very individual pieces.


Goyo Montero, an in-demand dance-maker who's now resident choreographer with Acosta Danza, created Anthem for São Paulo Dance company in 2019 as a reflection on life cycles and collective identities, set to a score by his regular collaborator Owen Belton. Montero's style is muscular and fast-moving, and relies on intricate patterns and groupings.

Nacho Duato spent the bulk of his dancing career with Nederlands Dans Theater, where he absorbed company director and choreographer Jiří Kylián's very individual style of contemporary dance. Duato's piece, Gnawa, drinks from the ritualistic music of North Africa and is inspired by the mystical Islamic fellowship of the Gnawa people, brought to North Africa by the Berber as slaves. The piece was created in 2005 and restaged for São Paulo Dance Company four years later.

Finally, Cassi Abranches's colourful and vibrant Agora sculpts the movement of each dancer’s body to the percussive beats and bass grooves of Sebastian Piracés’ score, mixing drums and Afro-Brazilian percussion with rock music and vocals.

São Paulo Dance Company tour is presented by Dance Consortium.

There will be a post-show talk with members of the company on Friday 9 February. Free to same-day ticket-holders