ZviDance

DanceBrazil

Widely credited as one of the first performers to bring the Brazilian martial art Capoeira to the United States , Founder and Artistic Director JELON VIEIRA formed DANCEBRAZIL in 1975. A respected choreographer, he has worked with several American dance companies including Dance Theater of Harlem and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre; Alvin Ailey was instrumental in founding DanceBrazil.

In 1985 DanceBrazil premiered Orfeo Negro at the Riverside Dance Festival to critical and popular acclaim; the piece established the company's movement aesthetic- one fusing traditional Afro-Brazilian and modern dance. Over the past 25 years DanceBrazil has toured throughout the United States , including performances at Spoleto USA , the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center . The company has also toured in Europe, Asia and Brazil .

Jelon Vieira also has two new works in development which will be available for touring towards the end of 08/09 and in 09/10:

• He will be working with Capoeira as the focus of a new work. As a highly regarded Capoeira Mestre (Master) whose status and knowledge are recognized worldwide, he is well suited to revisit this topic as the focal point of this next new work. The work will depict its forms and include a commissioned score performed on some traditional capoeira instruments as well as contemporary adaptations of them.  

  • A new work will also be choreographed by Carlos dos Santos , a frequent DanceBrazil guest artist, with a commissioned score composed and conducted by Tania León. This work will focus on the Afro-Brazilian traditions of candomblé and its deities.