Dancing in the dark: Blind ballerinas from Sao Paulo are needing your help to make a movie

Have you ever tried to close your eyes when you're dancing? It's quite exciting for a while, isn't it? But I wonder how you, that is in front of this screen, would feel if could not read this post. I also wonder what would I do, if I could not see and needed hopelessly to find the toilet bowl — generally we men only close our eyes and place our hand on the wall after begin to pee. I'm sure I would be absolutely lost.

Unfortunately, when most of the people 'see' on the street some brave person that can't 'see', don't think that much about the daily life of a blind individual. It's dramatic for us, to think about being in the dark for ever. It would be a huge paradigm break. However, what would you think if I tell you that lots of them dance ballet? Another paradigm break?

There is a ballet school here in São Paulo that teaches blind people to dance. It's amazing to see how they perform. The project was started 16 years ago by the ballet teacher Fernanda Bianchini and some of the dancers still practicing until now, such as Geysa that lost her sight when she was 10 years old. Nowadays they are preparing themselves to perform at the classic Municipal Theatre of São Paulo. Last year, they performed at the 2012 Paralympics closing ceremony in London. Click on this link to view the video made by BBC and find out how strong is the feeling.

Film project
The film director Alexandre Peralta, which is a Brazilian studying in USA, has been following the ballet school on the last few years and is willing to produce a documentary film about the people related to the school. The film entitled "Looking at the Stars" wants to show how the school is important on their lives. According to him, "this movie is about their passion for doing something that seemed unreachable for them".

Currently he and his team are trying to raise money to make it possible via the Kickstarter website. The project needs US$ 16,000 to be produced and it will be available for donation till February 5th. They want to shoot in the Summer of 2013 and need money for the trip, to host and pay the crew (5 people) and afford the expenses, that includes rentals, equipment, locations and everything else. 

It is extremely exciting to find that we are able to do seemingly impossible things when sometimes what we want is just to feel alive. Insidesaopaulo deeply supports this project! Do the same and help this group to make their dream come true. Donate. They need $16,000 by Feb 5th!

Where you can find them
Where: Avenida Domingos de Moraes, 1765 - Vila Mariana
When: It will be possible to pledge till Feb 5th.
How much should I donate?: It's up to you, but find out more on this website
Phone: +55 (11) 5084-8542
Website: www.ciafernandabianchini.org.br/
Email: ciaballetdecegos@gmail.com

Introducing: Teatro Municipal de São Paulo

Teatro Municipal viewed from the Praça Ramos de Azevedo 

The Teatro Municipal of Sao Paulo was inaugurated in 1911 and is one of the most important theaters in Brazil. It is often featured on postcards because of its historical importance as a venue for the Semana da Arte Moderna (Modern Art Week) in 1922. Also, it is a landmark of Modernism in Brazil, and is noted for its architectural style, inspired by the Paris Opera.

The theater often hosts opera concerts, ballet, string quartet performances among many others. It's worth a visit!

Service
What: Teatro Municipal de São Paulo
Where: Praça Ramos de Azevedo
Map view of the Theater: www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/cidade/upload/Mapa
Buying tickets: www.ingressorapido.com.br/prefeitura
Phone: +55 (11) 3397-0300
Website: www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/cidade/secretarias/cultura/teatromunicipal/

Theatre Festival in Sao Paulo

For the third consecutive year, the Theatre Festival (Festa do Teatro) will offer 40,000 free tickets for plays that can be seen in Sao Paulo between June 3rd and June 12th.

The opening event will be held on Thursday, June 2, at 12 pm at the Vale do Anhangabaú, and will include a presentation from the Base Theatre Company (Cia Base), which will perform in a hot-air balloon 30 meters off the ground.

This year, there are new performances for children, plus sessions with subtitles and audio descriptions for the visually and hearing impaired.

Service
What: Festa do Teatro - Theatre Festival 
Where: Many theatres around the city. Click on the link bellow to track the best option for yourself
When: June 3rd to 12th
Price: For free. Each person can get 2 tickets, which will be delivered from June 2nd to June 4th at Lapa (Biblioteca Mário Schenberg), Vila Formosa (Biblioteca P. Setúbal), Santo Amaro (Casa Amarela), Centro Cultural São Paulo (CCSP), Brás (SP Escola de Teatro) and Teatro Municipal
Website: www.festadoteatro.com.br/

Kataklò in Sao Paulo tonight

The Italian dance company Kataklò Athletic Dance Theatre brings to São Paulo its new choreography, "Light ". The presentation takes place today, Monday 23, at the Teatro Alfa.

Formed by ex-athletes, the group combines dance and acrobatics. In this show, light is the main character.

This is the fourth time the group comes to Brazil. Before they brought to the country "Fair Play " (2004), "Livingston"(2005) and "Play " (2008).

Service  
What: Kataklò Athletic Dance Theatre
Where: Teatro Alfa, Rua Bento Branco de Andrade Filho, 722 - Sao Paulo
When: May 23, 9 pm
Price: R$ 30 to 60
Phone: +55 (11)  5693-4000
Website: http://www.kataklo.com/eng/home.html

Introducing: mTrip Sao Paulo, smartphone Application

We proudly announce a huge project that the Inside São Paulo team has been involved in: mTrip São Paulo!

It's an intelligent Sao Paulo travel guide about attractions, restaurants, hotels, bars, entertainment and shopping destinations to explore. The options are endless. The APP offers a tool called mTrip Genius to automatically create a completely personalized trip based on your preferences and needs. It's easy to get crazy using augmented reality to see what’s around you or check out the map for ideas on top experiences nearby. The guide also can take you to your next trip destination by foot or subway. E-postcards can be sent to your friends while you are out seeing the sights – no need to wait until you get home from your trip.

"It can drive you through the city, using the most advantage technology, connecting our knowledge with your personal device."

My name is Diego Ramos and I'm the editor of mTrip’s Sao Paulo guide and manager of the blog Inside São Paulo. I used my knowledge of the city to create a unique guide aiming to drive travelers in a new way to the city sights including highly recognized attractions, frequent concerts and experimental theatre and dance. But of course, I wouldn't be able to do it all by myself. I had the support of a very important and brilliant team. Thank you very much to: Annalisa Volse, Flávia Panachão, Bruna Giovanna, André Marcondes, Mari Patrão, Camila Pardo and Kahina Robinson. It wouldn't be possible without them. I'm very glad and proud about what we have done.

How it works
This APP is the result of a partnership with the mTrip company. All Rights Reserved. Device Requirements:

• iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
• Requires iOS 3.1 or later
• 91.8 MB
• It's also available for Android system devices. 

Pricing and Availability
Sao Paulo Travel Guide 1.2.2 is $5.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies). For more information on the applications or to download a travel guide visit the mTrip Travel Guides website.

Theater in the Parks - Teatro nos Parques

The Cooperativa Paulista of theater organizes the second edition of the "Theater in the Parks", whose aim is to offer a true theater festival in 41 parks throughout the city from September 4 to November 28, with free entry.

24 shows will be available in outlying areas and in other places away from the poles of the central city. The project gives priority to productions in open spaces, and thus, the street theater democratizes the culture because it meets the audience.

Check out the rich program

Paulista Avenue area is rich in theaters

A study of the São Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau points out some peculiarities of regions of Sao Paulo. Did you know that the center has an area for events larger than Brasilia has? And the Avenida Paulista has more theaters than Santiago (Chile) and 50% more hotel rooms than Campinas? The idea is to show that tourists can enjoy many attractions paulistanas without ever leaving the neighborhood in which they are hosted. Some theaters next to the Paulista Avenue that you can reach with a reasonable walk:

Centro Cultural São Paulo -  Avenida Vergueiro,1000 - São Paulo
Teatro Augusta - Rua Augusta, 943 -  São Paulo

Teatro Bibi Ferreira - Avenida Brigadeiro Luís Antônio, 931 - São Paulo

Teatro Popular do SESI - Avenida Paulista, 1313 -  São Paulo

Teatro Procópio Ferreira - Rua Augusta, 2823 - São Paulo

Teatro Ruth Escobar - Rua dos Ingleses, 209 -  São Paulo

Teatro Shopping Frei Caneca - Rua Frei Caneca 569 - São Paulo

Teatro Popular SESI

International Theatre Festival

Starting from today, Thursday 24th of June, the Centro Cultural Banco do Brazil (Sao Paulo downtown) will present three pieces, from the United States, Chile and France, in partnership with the International Festival of Londrina.All the theatre show are free and subtitled, and the public should take the tickets with at least an hour before.

The French group Cie Bakelite holds two sessions of "Braquage" (On Thursday 24th, for guests, and Friday 25th for the general public). Full of good humor and suspense, the story shows characters who try to invest in a great crime and teach basic tricks of the underworld.

The U.S. company Redmoon will be on the stage on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th, in "The Cabinet," they reveal the experiences of a scientist perfidious assassin.

To close, the Chilean group Teatro Inmóvil shows the piece "El Último Heredero," 1st to July 4th.

Service

Where: CCBB, rua Alvares Penteado 112 - Sao Paulo

When: From June 24th to July 4th

How much: For free

The opera Tosca inside Sao Paulo

Teatro São Pedro has chosen "Tosca", the work of the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, to open its 2010 season last Thursday 29th.

In the theater until May 8, the group presents the story of Tosca, an opera singer in Rome who finds herself caught between obeying the chief of police or seeing her lover, the painter and revolutionary Mario Cavaradossi, who will be tortured and killed.

It is a good way for people who are not use to this kind of art, to get to know a bit more about Opera. While for lovers of Opera, this is a classic that can't be missed.

Service
When: April 29th to May 8th, Tuesday and Thurday at 8h30 pm, Saturday and Sunday at 5 pm
Where: Theatro Sao Pedro, Rua Barra Funda 171 - Sao Paulo
Website: www.apaacultural.org.br/saopedro/
Phone: 11 - 3667 0499

Concert of the Symphonic Band of the State of Sao Paulo this Friday (March 12th)

The world of classical music begins to brighten in 2010. And the noble Theatro São Pedro will be glad to receive a single submission with three established composers. "Live Music" by Alfred Reed, opens the series, followed by "The Four Noble Truths," by Philip Sparke, to finish with more expected, "The Lord of the Rings, as the conductor Johan de Meij. The conductor Mark Sadao Shirakawa adds: "For those who know the film's soundtrack, will be an amazing experience to hear the version of Meij with striking scenes in mind, made long before the book reaches the screens."

[fernando aguiar by b.coolt]

Service
Where: Theatro São Pedro, Rua Barra Funda, 171 — Barra Funda
When: March 12th, at 9pm.
How much: R$ 2

A theatrical presentation will happen in a wall outside a building and can be seen from the Paulista Avenue

A theatrical presentation about a Kafka's story will be performed outside of the building of the SESC Paulista. The event was designed to be seen from inside the building, where the actors will be doing the presentation from outside the glass wall. The tickets are sold out, but it will be possible to see (not with the same quality as inside, mainly because the absence of sound and proper structure of light) from the Paulista Avenue. The event will happen about 18 meters above the ground.

In the Kafka's story (The Castle), a surveyor can not work for the lord of a castle because of the bureaucracy procedures applied to get to him.

In Kastelo (adaptation), the action is transposed to the daily life of a corporation in which employees work obsessively, always with the possibility of becoming "disposable". This scenario highlight the confusion mood and misinformation approached by Kafka. The presentation takes about one hour.

Service
Where: SESC Paulista
When: February 3rd to March 14th, Thursday to Sunday at 9pm. The presentation will be canceled if it is raining.
How Much: R$ 20 R$ 10 (sold out)

Sao Paulo will receive The Cats from Broadway on March 2010

The musical Cats, one of the greatest successes of Broadway, will season in March at the theater Abril. The play, which premiered in London in 1981, has been presented in 20 countries. "Memory", his most striking song was recorded more than 150 times.

Chico Buarque show "Os saltimbancos"

Sao Paulo's cultural offer is huge and going to the theatre is a good option to spend the week end! Usually it's hard to understand a performance in Portuguese, if you are foreign and don't speak this language, but we'll try to advice musicals or shows easy to follow! These days there is something really interesting at the Teatro Folha, it's a musical called "Os Saltimbancos". It was written by Chico Buarque and in this version is directed by Fezu Duarte. It's a very simple story: four animals (a donkey, a chicken, a dog and a cat) form a band and go to the town, searching for the dream of becoming artists, they will be facing a new reality; the animals are a metaphor of workers who escape the wage system to establish a community. As always Chico is explaining a deep problem in an easy way.

Service
Where: Os Saltimbancos - Teatro Folha, inside Higienopolis shopping center, Avenida Higienopolis 618- São Paulo
When: Every Saturday and Sunday, at 17,40, untill December the 20th.
How much: R$ 30 and R$ 15 for children.

Theater Festival on 32 different Parks of Sao Paulo

Some parks of Sao Paulo will receive theater groups of the Teatro nos Parques (Theater in the Park) between September 5th and October 31st. Thirty-two city parks are subscribed on this festival adding 64 presentations, 16 groups are already working with a theatrical language specific for parks, streets, open or alternative spaces, putting together approximately 120 artists, actors, musicians and circus, with languages accessible to all age groups and social layers. Everything is absolutely free.

It has already started (Saturday 5th) at Ibirapuera Park and these presentations will be extended until the end of October. The project Teatro nos Parques (Theater in the Park) has being organized by Cooperativa Paulista de Teatro and it's aiming to prepare people to the theater, because the parks are frequented by a wide range of people.

Scene of the group Buraco D’ Oráculo in an open air presentation

Participating Groups
Brava Cia., Abacirco, Buraco D’ Oráculo, Trupe Olho da Rua, Cia. Pia Fraus, Companhia dos Inventivos, A Santa Palavra, Circo & Cia., Circo Mínimo, Circo Navegador, Núcleo Pavanelli, Valdeck de Garanhus, Na Companhia dos Anjos, Atelier de Manufactura Suspeita/Companhia Linhas Aéreas e Grupo Ivo 60.

Service
Where: on 32 different Parks of Sao Paulo. Click here and check the program schedule. (Portuguese version only, so write a comment if you need a help).
When: Every Saturday and Sunday between September 5th and October 31st.
How much: For free

Blue Man Group in Sao Paulo

The Blue Man Group starts their season in Sao Paulo from September 2nd to 13th.

To compose the Brazilian submission, the group visited some samba schools aiming to get some novelties to the shows. The trio of bald blue men present in Sao Paulo their Megastar World Tour.

In the show, the group offers a humorous simulation workshop on how to be a perfect rock band. So, they follow a manual and do performances with lights, screens, interactions with the public and play some rock classics songs, such as "Baba O 'Riley" by The Who.

One of the main characteristics of the 'blues' is to produce sounds through unusual musical instruments, such as pipe, antenna, fiber glass, sitar or even disassembled piano.

The soundtrack of the show runs from Sex Pistols to The Clash, passing through Led Zeppelin. This year, the Blue Man Group will try to introduce some samba elements. Check it out!

[source: destak]

Service
Where: Credicard Hall, Av. das Nações Unidas, 17955 — São Paulo
When: September 2nd to 13th. Check out the time schedule.
Phone: (11) 2846-6010
How Much: From R$ 60 to R$ 280
Where to buy: Ticket Master
Website: http://www.credicardhall.com.br/

Teatro Bradesco: New theater brings 1,4 thousand new seats to the public

[photo: luisa santosa]

During the first half of September, the city gets one more multiplex. Not a complex of cinemas, but the theater Bradesco, a hall of 1.457 seats at the Shopping Bourbon, adapted to receive several shows simultaneously.

The stage of 600 square meters has "a choice of scenery every 30 cm," says Ismael Solé, responsible for the project. "The floor, for example, is for special presentations of ballet." Says Luca Cavalcante, director of marketing of the institution.

This means that the space can house in one week, or even the same day, a musical show, a presentation of dance and theater.

[source: destak]