Quorum Ballet returns to the Municipal Theater of Portimão (Tempo) on September 29, at 21 pm, to present the latest creation by choreographer Daniel Cardoso, “The Elements”.
O Sul Informação spoke with the choreographer, who is currently in St. Petersburg, Russia. Daniel Cardoso knows the Algarve public well, and that of Portimão in particular, and that is why he hopes that the new show, based on the four elements of Nature, will manage to surprise the group's fans, but also attract new audiences.
Tickets cost between 10 and 12,5 euros. With four dancers on stage and original visual effects, the choreography is based on music by Mahler, Mozart, Debussy and Saint-Saens.
Daniel Cardoso explains his options and reflects on the solid national and, above all, international career of Quorum Ballet. For next year, he already has plans for a new show: an up-to-date and bold version of «Lake of the Swans». It remains to be hoped that this future show will also pass through Portimão. For now, on Saturday, the four elements take to the stage of Time.
Sul Informação – This is not the first time that Quorum Ballet has performed at the Teatro Municipal de Portimão. What makes them come back now?
Daniel Cardoso – The Tempo theater in Portimão is very special for the company. It was there that we co-produced one of Quorum Ballet's most important productions, the “Dois Séculos”. Since then, it has been a priority for us to continue working with this excellent team, to continue to create an audience for the company and for dance in general.
SulI – The show is at the box office, that is, Quorum Ballet assumes all the risks. What makes you risk a presentation of this type in Portimão? What expectations do you have?
DC – At a time like this that we are going through in our country, we have to take risks to be able to move forward…always measured and well calculated risks. We have to adapt to circumstances, stopping or going backwards is not an option. We went ahead with a well-defined strategy (which includes possible box office shows), new ideas and, above all, imagination to overcome the challenges. The expectation is that the public will come to Tempo to see the latest production by Quorum Ballet.
SulI- In 2010, Quorum Ballet premiered in Portimão the original creation “Dois Séculos”, in homage to the life and work of Manuel Teixeira Gomes. This presupposes a strong connection to Portimão. How has this relationship with the city and the Algarve been going? What makes them come back now?
DC – “Two Centuries” was an important milestone in the company's history, it was the first large-scale co-production. This production was a milestone for me and for everyone involved. Since then, whenever we return to Portimão, we are very well received and with full houses! The relationship with the Algarve has been the best, we have been present in the south of the country in several cities, every year. It's been great!
Showing Portuguese dance abroad is the objective
SulI – Your career has been done a lot abroad. Where have you been this last year? How did these invitations to present your work come about internationally? What is your assessment of these international tours?
DC – Since the founding of Quorum we have traveled a lot internationally. It has always been and continues to be one of the company's top priorities. Dance is universal, that's the only way a project like Quorum Ballet makes sense. In 2012, the company was in China (Shanghai, Guangzhou and Macau), Denmark (Arhus and Randers), Serbia and Spain. For 2013, we already have confirmed tours in China, Denmark, Croatia, Brazil and Bahrain. These invitations came from the work of many years. We spent six years sowing (still continuing) and creating, now we are reaping some of the fruits. It has not been an easy road, but we are getting results. If it weren't for the international tours in 2012, Quorum Ballet would not have been able to continue in the same way… The balance has been very positive, we ended up surpassing our own expectations, we have had sold-out rooms where we have been performing. It has been excellent and above all an incentive for us to continue striving to maintain a full-time dance company.
SulI – Right now you are in Russia. What is your job there?
DC – Right now, I'm in Russia teaching and choreographing for the Vaganova Academy (Kirov Ballet School) in St. Petersburg. I had already been here in 2007/08. It's always a unique experience, working at the most renowned classical dance school and teaching them the latest in contemporary dance. Above all, I feel privileged and enriched by the experience.
SulI – What other shows are scheduled in Portugal in the near future? And abroad?
DC- By the end of the year, Quorum Ballet will also be in Spain, Azores (Angra, São Miguel, Faial and Graciosa), Leiria, Amadora, Seixal, Redondo (Alentejo), Bragança and Lisbon.
SulI – In our country, the company was distinguished at the Portugal Dance Awards, in 2009. Outside Portugal, they have already been awarded at least at the Castilla y León Theater Fair. Have these awards been important for the company? Have new doors opened for you?
DC – The awards have had the greatest importance for the entire team. Above all, they are an incentive and motivation for us to achieve our goals. Over the years, we have had several “awards”. More recently, the show “Correr o Fado” was considered one of the best productions of the year by Shanghai TimeOut Magazine, in China.
«The Elements» is a work inspired by the four elements of nature
SulI – In Portimão they will present “The Elements”, which is their most recent creation. What can you say about this creation? What should the Algarve public expect from this show? Is there anything that sets it apart from your previous creations already presented in the Algarve?
DC – «The Elements» is a work inspired by the four elements of nature. You can expect a very physical work in terms of movement and body expressiveness. Maybe it's one of the works that I like the most, gave me to create and develop… I hope we can surprise those who already know us and conquer new audiences with this new production. It's a different work from the ones we've produced so far, not only for the musical choice, but also for the way the elements are symbolized on stage.
SulI – This time, they chose music by Mahler, Mozart, Debussy, Saint-Saens. In other words, a musical choice very different from «Correr o Fado» or «Dois Séculos»…
DC – The choice of music is made depending on the theme of the piece and the message you want to pass on to the public. «The Elements» in this aspect is unique, it has an amazing musical choice (in a good way!), it has some of the most emblematic tracks in the classical repertoire.
SulI – Who are the dancers who are currently part of Quorum Ballet? What experience do you have?
DC – Currently the company has eight professional dancers (seven of them have been with the company since the debut of “Dois Séculos”!) and one intern. In 2013, we will have a production where we will have nine more trainees, a total of 17 dancers on stage. It will be the company's biggest production to date, a contemporary version of Swan Lake. In «The Elements» only four dancers perform.
SulI- How did Daniel Cardoso start his vocation as a dancer? Was difficult? Did you have support from family and friends?
DC- I started when I was 9 years old. I always had the support of my parents and family. Dancing isn't easy, so I can't say it was easy. Above all, I chose the right profession, I do what I like the most and I don't see myself doing anything else that isn't related to dancing. In that aspect I was very lucky…
SulI – How and when did you go from being a dancer to also a choreographer? What are your influences on choreography?
DC- Throughout my career, I've had different artistic influences, from many companies, artists and choreographers. Now I'm working to find my way and my artistic line as a creator. My interest in choreography started in 2000/01, when I was living in New York. Since then I started, but more seriously only in 2005, when I returned to Portugal and created Quorum.
Quorum Ballet is a project that only makes sense in Portugal
SulI – With your experience, wouldn't it be preferable to work “out there”? Why do you continue to work in Portugal?
DC - Outside it would certainly be easier, but the objective was never to take the Quorum Ballet abroad. I've been working for ten years outside Portugal to be able to bring something new, a contribution to our dance world. Quorum Ballet is my contribution, and it only makes sense in Portugal: a company that wants to take high quality Portuguese dance across borders. That's the only way it makes sense, crisis or no crisis. I hope we can (the Quorum is above all the result of teamwork) to continue this great challenge…
SulI – What projects do you have on a personal level and within the scope of Quorum Ballet for the next time? Are you already thinking about a new show? What will it be?
DC – The «Swan Lake»: this will be our big project for 2013. A current, contemporary and bold version of the original story.
Comments