Eliana de Santana and the E² Theater And Dance Company
A noisy encounter between the body, stage, and the contemporary world
In this story, we will follow the journey of artist Eliana de Santana, from her first steps in theater to the creation and evolution of the E² Theater and Dance Company.
Eliana de Santana in the play "A Emparedada da Rua Nova" (Novembro de 2017) by Hernandes de OliveiraPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Her work combines the languages of dance and theater to address issues such as the anonymous individual in contemporary society.
Eliana de Santana was born on November 20, 1961, in São Paulo. As a child, she played in the backyard, creating imaginary worlds. At the age of eight, during a school performance wearing a purple crepe skirt made by her aunt, she knew that art would be her path for life.
She began her training in 1984 with directors Antunes Filho and Antônio Abujamra. In 1986, she studied ballet with Zélia Monteiro and explored contemporary dance with Mariana Muniz and Wellington Duarte, also performing with Kayzetta Nucleus and Taan Teatro by Maura Baiocchi.
Eliana integrated oriental techniques such as Tai Chi Chuan, Liang Gong, and Yoga, broadening her body expression and enriching her artistic creations.
In 1996, Eliana began her solo dance work with the piece "Tragédia Brasileira", created in partnership with Wellington Duarte and inspired by the homonymous poem by Manuel Bandeira. This project received support from the Stagium Network Grant.
From that year on, Eliana conceived the E² Theater and Dance Company, which in the following years would explore the theme of the anonymous subject, utilizing mobile cells for scene composition.
In 2001, she premiered "Das Faces do Corpo", a solo inspired by Arthur Omar's book Anthropology of the Glorious Face. This creation was part of the Confraria Desnaturada project, in partnership with Wellington Duarte, and was awarded the Vitae Arts Grant.
The piece "Das Faces do Corpo" was revisited in later years (2012–2013) as a group performance featuring various interpreters.
Since the early days of E², Hernandes de Oliveira, a lighting designer and visual artist, has shaped the company’s scenic vision. As artistic director, he creates lighting and set designs, merging visual art and dance to enhance the expressive power of performances.
Eliana de Santana in the play "Francisca da Silva de Oliveira - Chica da Silva - Um Esboço." Eliana de Santana in the play "Francisca da Silva de Oliveira - Chica da Silva - Um Esboço." (Dezembro de 2008) by Hernandes de OliveiraPortal MUD - Dance Museum
With "Francisca da Silva de Oliveira – Chica da Silva – A Sketch" (2006), Eliana brought to the stage a reinterpretation of Chica da Silva, inspired by Júnia Ferreira Furtado’s book Francisca da Silva and the Diamond Contractor.
The book that inspired Chica da Silva offers a documentary study that reveals this historical figure beyond the popular myth. This work was supported by the Klauss Vianna Dance Prize from Funarte.
Francisca da Silva de Oliveira - Chica da Silva - A Sketch (Novembro de 2006) by Unknown AuthorPortal MUD - Dance Museum
In 2011, Eliana received the APCA Award for her performance in "...and the other sweetnesses of God", a work inspired by the eponymous text by Clarice Lispector. This solo piece addresses themes such as the fragility of existence and social invisibility.
In 2010, with the piece "Onde os Começos?", inspired by the work of Hilda Hilst, performers Wellington Duarte and Eliana de Santana reunited on stage 14 years after the premiere of "Tragédia Brasileira."
"Afro Margin", "Lost in Spaceshit", and "Blue" are three works created by E² as part of an investigation into the work of British artist Chris Ofili.
"Ofili" works with refined technical expertise and explores ancestry interwoven with elements of pop culture. From his provocative perspective, the three works by E² address racial issues through a plastic-compositional approach present in the artist's work.
In 2015, E² presented "A Emparedada da Rua Nova", based on the novel by Carneiro Vilela, and "Baleia", inspired by Vidas Secas by Graciliano Ramos. Both works were presented in several CEUs (Cultural Centers) in São Paulo and in some cities in the countryside.
Play "Baleia" (Maio de 2015) by Hernandes de OliveiraPortal MUD - Dance Museum
In 2018, "Música para Ver" premiered – built from the album "Concerto de Cordas & Máquinas de Ritmo" by Gilberto Gil, where Eliana danced to various songs performed by the artist, reflecting on themes such as contemporary life, Brazilian identity, love, and death.
In 2020, during the pandemic, Eliana participated in "Caderno de Artista", a series by the São Paulo Cultural Center that invited creators to explore their creative processes, understandings of dance, references, materials, and techniques through visual records.
"The Notebook" (2020) by Eliana de Santana e Hernades de OliveiraPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Eliana de Santana on stage during the filming of the video "Agnes & Alice." (Junho de 2021) by Hernandes de OliveiraPortal MUD - Dance Museum
"Agnes & Alice" premiered in 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was adapted into a video in 2021. The piece reflects on invisibility, inspired by the works of painter Agnes Martin and musician Alice Coltrane, women who sought isolation and introspection in their later years.
"Agnes & Alice" (Junho de 2021) by Nome Filmes - Pri MagalhãesPortal MUD - Dance Museum
In 2021, E² premiered the solo "TUDO QUE É IMAGINÁRIO EXISTE E É E TEM – UMA DANÇA PARA ESTAMIRA", inspired by Marcos Prado’s documentary "Estamira". The piece serves as a tribute to this real-life figure portrayed by the filmmaker.
"EVERYTHING IMAGINABLE EXISTS AND IS AND HAS - A Dance for Estamira" (Novembro de 2021) by Nome Filmes - Pri MagalhãesPortal MUD - Dance Museum
In 2024, E² premiered "Ruído Vermelho", exploring contemporary precarity with guest artists, and "Preto Abstrato", which addressed abstraction through a poetic lens, questioning the ties between art, ancestry, and violence.
Hernandes de Oliveira and Eliana de Santana receive the Denilto Gomes Award. (Fevereiro de 2023) by Unidentified photographerPortal MUD - Dance Museum
E² Theater and Dance Company, led by Eliana de Santana and enriched by Hernandes de Oliveira's artistic work, has built a path that merges performing arts with a critique of the contemporary world, exploring themes such as identity, invisibility, and exclusion.
Learn more about the story of Eliana de Santana and the E² Theater and Dance Company.
Access the materials from the artist's and the company's collection on the Portal MUD.
The collection of the E² Theater and Dance Company was acquired for the production of the project ESPAÇOCORPOLUZ, funded by the 35th edition of the Dance Support Program of the City of São Paulo - Municipal Secretariat of Culture.
Artistic Direction: Eliana de Santana and Hernandes de Oliveira
Curatorship, archive research, content production, and texts: Portal MUD
Communication and social media: Portal MUD
Production: Corpo Rastreado – Letícia Alves
Press Office: Canal Aberto
Realization: Municipal Dance Support Program for the City of São Paulo – Municipal Secretariat of Culture
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