From the streets of Brasil’s shanty towns comes a
dance and percussion sensation set to exhilarate Melbourne audiences
20-30 January 2010

 With a pulsating mix of African dance, hip-hop, samba and capoeira, Brasil’s Balé de Rua will thrill audiences with their electrifying carnival of dance when they arrive in Melbourne to perform at the State Theatre from 20-30 January, following its Australian debut at the Opera House for the Sydney Festival.

“Stunning…if only I’d have a sixth star at my disposal” The Scotsman

A sell-out in Paris, a triumph in Edinburgh and a hit in London, the international blockbuster will send summer temperatures soaring.

“Spectacular daring and originality…a triumph for its interpreters, who have shaken up the international scene” Los Angeles Times

As colourful as the streets from where they hail, the dance and percussion sensation features a cast of fifteen dancers and vocalist who perform exhilarating break-dancing and breathless body movements to traditional Brasilian melodies and the original musical composition and distinctive choreography of Marco Antônio Garcia.

Portuguese for “street ballet”, Balé de Rua recounts more than 300 years of life in Brasil; the highs and lows of life, joy, love and culture from its African roots through to modern day fusion. Derived from hip hop, street dance, capoeira and samba, Balé de Rua is also influenced by the daily life of the dancers, many of whom have survived by doing odd jobs in the favelas or shanty towns.

“Dynamic, heart-lifting and oozing imagination…a must-see” The Herald

Premiering at the Biennale de la Dance in Lyon in 2002, Balé de Rua was first founded in 1992 by Fernando Narduchi, Marco Antônio Garcia and José Marciel Silva as Cia de Danca Balé de Rua, a community project for the marginalised young people of Brasil’s small city of Uberlandia. Two years ago the company opened its own cultural centre with funding from the Brasilian Ministry of Culture.Thanks to the magic of dreams and dance, Balé de Rua is the story of friends who have painted the world anew, in glorious technicolour, allowing them to live through the art they once used to survive the poor conditions of their landscape.

Balé de Rua
Date: 20 – 30 January 2010
Venue: the Arts Centre, State Theatre, 100 St Kilda Rd
Times: 20-23 Jan, 8pm and 27-29 Jan, 8pm. 30 Jan, 4pm & 8pm.
Bookings: t 1300 182 183* w theartscentre.com.au* @ the Arts Centre box office *Transaction fee applies
Ticket prices:

• Premium - $89
• A Reserve - Adult $79, Concession $59, Group $59, Youth $40, Family $240
• B Reserve - Adult $69, Concession $49, Youth $39, Family $180