Marcos Abranches' Dance

The story of a perceptive artist who overcomes physical barriers

By Portal MUD - Dance Museum

Curated by Estela Lapponi

Performance "CANTO DOS MALDITOS"Portal MUD - Dance Museum

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In this story, we will follow the journey of the artist Marcos Abranches. His work combines technique, sensitivity, and the exploration of the body's limits through innovative ways of thinking about dance.

Performance "CANTO DOS MALDITOS"Portal MUD - Dance Museum

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Born in São Paulo, Marcos Abranches began his journey in dance in the early 2000s. It was at the Cia. Teatro Oficina Uzyna Uzona, led by Zé Celso Martinez, where he participated in his first productions and began to explore his artistic side more deeply.

He started his career in 2003, joining the Cia. FAR 15, where he participated in productions such as Senhor dos Anjos, Jardim de Tântalo, and Metamorfose de Franz Kafka. Directed by Sandro Borelli and Sônia Soares, these productions were fundamental to his artistic formation.

"Avessos" by Marcos Abranches and Cia. Vidança (2014) by Gal Oppido, Giuliano Conti, Luciana BeloliPortal MUD - Dance Museum

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In 2005, Marcos Abranches founded Cia. Vidança with the goal of promoting diversity in dance, challenging traditional conceptions of motor skills and the presence of diverse bodies on stage.

Solo "D...EQUILÍBRIO" (2017) by Gal OppidoPortal MUD - Dance Museum

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The company's first work, D...Equilíbrio, addresses the fragility of the human emotional state and was inspired by the film Bicho de Sete Cabeças. It later transformed into a solo, with over a hundred performances.

Installation Theater "Trem Fantasma"Portal MUD - Dance Museum

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In 2005, Marcos achieved a major milestone in his career by presenting Via sem Regra under the direction of Gerda König at the Crossings Dance Festival (Düsseldorf, Germany), a festival known for showcasing innovative contemporary dance works.

Installation Theater "Trem Fantasma"Portal MUD - Dance Museum

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He also performed in the play Trem Fantasma, an adaptation of the work Navio Fantasma, directed by Christoph Schlingensief, a renowned European director. The play explores complex and expressive themes, integrating dance with theatrical narrative.

Work "Corpo sobre Tela"Portal MUD - Dance Museum

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Corpo sobre Tela, created in 2013, is a standout performance in the dancer's creations. Conceived and choreographed by him, the work is inspired by the life and art of painter Francis Bacon.

Work "Corpo sobre Tela"Portal MUD - Dance Museum

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In this work, Abranches acts as a "brush" and creates large-scale abstract images. The artist, dressed in white fabric, performs actions and moves with paints, transforming the space into an explosion of colors in an unsettling performance, where his body merges with the canvas.

Poster of O ARTISTA E A FORÇA DO PENSAMENTO (2021) by Script and Direction: Elder Fraga Cinematography: Caue Angeli Cast: Marcos Abranches (artist)Portal MUD - Dance Museum

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In 2021, the documentary "O Artista e a Força do Pensamento" premiered, directed by Elder Fraga. The audiovisual explores the life and journey of Marcos Abranches, showcasing his creative process and performances shaped by his artistic expression and existential questions.

Record of the Workshop 'DANCE FOR ALL BODIES' (2023) by Unknown AuthorPortal MUD - Dance Museum

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Marcos Abranches shows us that dance is a sociopolitical and cultural transformative force. His art celebrates the power of expression, translating life experiences into movement, where freedom and emotion meet, and thought turns into dance.

Learn more about Marcos Abranches's story

Access the artist's collection materials on the Portal MUD.

This story is part of the MOVER MEMÓRIAS project, funded by the FUNARTE RETOMADA - DANCE 2023 grant.

Credits: Story

Curator: Estela Lapponi
General and Museological Coordination: Talita Bretas
Coordination and Research Assistant: Rúbia Galera
Archivist: Murilo Armando
Trainee: Pietra Padilha
Image Description: Verena Teixeira
Consultancy: Valéria Vieira  

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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