Francisca Graça is a user of the University of Algarve for the Third Age (UTAI), from Faro. Rosa Felisberto is a student of the artistic course specialized in the area of Dance at Escola Secundária Tomás Cabreira, also from Faro. They have been separating them for decades, but tonight, starting at 21:30 pm, they will show on the Teatro das Figuras stage how, through the crossing of generations, art is made.
“Tsugi” is the name of the show that brings together young and old to think together “about the passage of time and the living heritage that is our body”.
This is what Rafael Alvarez says, choreographer and creator of this contemporary dance show that, after passing through Porto, Lisbon and Paris, came to Faro.
During one of the last rehearsals before the premiere, the artist explains to the Sul Informação how this project was born, inspired by the word “Tsugi” (from Japanese: repair, connect, unite).
«This started through a broader project that I developed in the Porto district, of mediation and inclusion, through dance, which proposed to stimulate and implement a set of contemporary dance sessions, in five homes and day centers», he says.
The objective was, therefore, «to bring dance into these institutions, with the participation of users» and showing how, «through dance», it was possible to «minimize feelings of loneliness and social isolation».
In the end, it all ended with a great show at the Porto Coliseu, with the project later expanding to Lisbon and Paris, where Rafael Alvarez also works.
“Tsugi” ended up gaining an intergenerational dimension, bringing together young and old, now reaching Faro for a single show. On stage, there will be 40 people from UTAI, as well as those from the specialized artistic course in the area of Dance at Escola Secundária Tomás Cabreira and some seniors from Monchique, Lisbon and Porto.
«This exchange of ideas, this exchange is very positive, because it also helps to establish connections to think about this issue of the passage of time and the living heritage that is our body», says Rafael Alvarez.
For Francisca Graça, a user of the University of Algarve for the Third Age, the experience has been «quite pleasant».
«Look, both at me and at my colleagues. It's a way of getting out of the daily routine and being able to assert ourselves as elderly, but capable people", she says, bluntly.
The fact that they are working with young people has also been challenging, despite having already participated with some “in other projects”.
«It’s not more difficult because it’s dance, but it’s different. The body is less used to it,” she says.
In these adventures, Dona Francisca has always counted on invaluable support: her children. “They love that I participate in these things. They say to me: oh mother, does it give you pleasure? So do it!”, she says, between laughs.
For Rosa Felisberto, a 12th year student on the artistic course specialized in Dance at Escola Secundária Tomás Cabreira, it has also been a «different experience» working with older people.
"It is challenging! We are used to doing several internships, but we don't usually work with elderly people. Here, everything is more affectionate: there is more competitiveness with people in our age group,” she laments.
In Rafael Alvarez's view, preparing this show has also been a challenge.
«We had four days to put together something that is demanding, on a technical level, with a choreographic structure that is complex, intensive work», he says.
Still, expectations are still high.
«I hope we have a significant audience on the other side of the audience. It's not every day that we have 40 people, of various ages, on a stage, with different stories and experiences», he concludes.
Tickets cost 10 euros, with a 50% discount for those under 30 and 25% for those over 65.
Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação
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