Redes da Maré in Brazil

2011
2021
"May B" in Maré © Sammi Landweer
"May B" in Maré © David Mambouch
Lia Rodrigues, Rehearsal © Sammi Landweer
Portrait of Lia Rodrigues © Sammi Landweer
In 2004, choreographer Lia Rodrigues moved the company she had founded twenty years earlier to the heart of the Favela da Maré, one of Rio de Janeiro’s largest favelas. There she approached the association Redes da Maré, which had been working in the community for many years. In a context of glaring social and economic inequalities where access to culture is often complex, Lia Rodrigues and Redes da Maré transformed a warehouse into a rehearsal space and opened dance classes up to local residents. In parallel, they wanted to establish a continuing education programme for young people in the favela, a dream that became a reality in 2011 with the creation of the Escola Livre de Dança da Maré.

Thanks to the experience and the expertise of its staff, the Escola Livre de Dança da Maré offers exceptional classes to local residents of all ages. Directed by choreographer Silvia Soter, the school also hosts classes for the broader general public so as to open up the neighbourhood to the city. A training programme, Nucléo, welcomes fifteen or so young adults from the Favela da Maré for four hours from Monday to Friday, with the chance to pursue the cursus over several years.

Since 2011, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès has supported the continuing education programme developed within this socially engaged project dedicated to the transmission of artistic skills. The Foundation played a role in the renovation of the school’s building and has also contributed to teachers’ salaries and bursaries for students. In a sign of the strong links forged at the school, former students return to give introductory classes in contemporary dance to the next intake. 

In 2018, the students in continuing education reinterpreted May B by Maguy Marin. As a young dancer, Lia Rodrigues participated in the original version of May B in 1981 before returning to her native Brazil. The piece is based on demystifying gestures that range from the subtle to the more essential and expressive, and emerges as a particularly sensitive vehicle for transmission between young dancers, amateurs and professionals. 

Also in 2018, as part of its New Settings programme, the Foundation supported the production and presentation of a new piece by Lia Rodrigues in Paris. The political situation in Brazil played a decisive role in the creative process of this work, entitled Fúria, where the ten dancers translate a sense of to the stage.

Disciplines
Performing arts
Solidarity
Lieu
Escola Livre de Dança da Maré
Maré
Brazil
In 2004, Lia Rodrigues moved her company to the heart of the Favela da Maré, one of Rio de Janeiro’s largest favelas.
Thanks to the experience and the expertise of its staff, the Escola Livre de Dança da Maré offers exceptional classes to its students.
Since 2011, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès has supported this socially engaged project dedicated to the transmission of artistic skills.

Information

See also