There is still “much to be defined”, but one thing is certain: the ocean will invade the Municipal Swimming Pools of Aljezur, from March 29th to April 1st, and Monchique, from April 5th to 8th. Dolphins, seahorses (are they real?) and a storm are some of the spices of this «water theater». Light, movement, music and images come together and, be careful, if you want to see all this live…you have to go in a bathing suit and slippers.
Here is “Mar Adentro”, another production of “Lavrar o Mar”, a project integrated in the “365Algarve”. To prepare the show for its premiere, an artist residency is taking place at the Aljezur Pools. Here, ideas are debated, movements are tried and everything is trained in the smallest detail.
O Sul Informação he put on his slippers, put on his bathing suit, and followed a morning of rehearsals. Much of the show will take place in the water, recreating elements of the ocean…in a swimming pool.
That's why the interpreters go there imitating dolphins, sea horses, but also a storm, always under the watchful eye of Madalena Victorino, artistic responsible for “Mar Adentro”.
“We are going to discuss the relationship between the body and water, which is very old and even religious. Without water, everything dies. Therefore, our show is political, religious and evokes a series of images related to people's movements around the world. It's just that many are made through water», explained Madalena to our newspaper.
And, as is usual in the productions of “Lavrar o Mar”, the show involves people from the places it passes through. «We were looking for residents in Aljezur who were interested in discovering this universe», says Remi Gallet, others responsible for this show.
For now, there is a group of «20, 30» people in the artist residency, but the number is not closed.
“We want to reach 50, 60 people. We are starting to approach shellfish collectors, fishermen, people who have great affinities with water, to help us understand where to go and how to approach water from an artistic point of view», said Madalena Victorino.
Ana Rute, resident in the municipality of Aljezur, is one of the volunteers who has been participating, since the beginning, in the artistic residency. “I really like working with water. I already knew Madalena and, as I'm also a dancer, a dance teacher and I learned some water therapies, I didn't hesitate to come», she told the Sul Informação.
But whoever thinks this is easy is wrong… Participants have to make several movements underwater, holding their breath, sometimes for several seconds. Therefore, it is not surprising when Ana Rute speaks of «strong work», which develops «physical endurance».
The Aljezur and Monchique Pools will be completely transformed into this show. The public will be invited to get their feet wet and get wet, watching everything in their bathing suit and slippers, by the pool.
Despite the artistic residency being held in Aljezur, until March, in Monchique, the show will be the same, “but with an adaptation”, because the pools are different.
“Our aim is also to invite older people. We want to have people from the mountains who take their first steps in the water in this show», explained Madalena.
In the Aljezur Swimming Pools, the large windows overlooking the village will become «a big screen, where the water will hit». Filmmaker Diogo Vilhena, from Sines, will be responsible for the show's images.
It is certain that until the debut, there is still a lot to be done. «The show will light up, at times, in the water, but there are many issues to be studied. There are impossible ideas and others that will lead to new ideas», explained, smiling, Madalena.
Remi Gallet couldn't agree more: “the idea is being defined. As we want to put the sea in the pool, this involves many objects and many stages».
Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação
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