The City of Arts, linked to the Municipal Secretariat of Culture, will host two free theater festivals in April dedicated to the cultural inclusion of artists and people with disabilities. The second edition of the “What Moves You?” Festival, on Saturday and Sunday (April 11 and 12), brings together artists with and without disabilities on stage, who use music, art, and education as instruments of social inclusion. The first “Blind Theater Festival”, from April 16 to 19, offers the public an immersive experience in total darkness, where the four senses are used to experience the shows “Wake Up, Love!”, “The Great Widower”, and “Light Up”.
Also as part of the inclusive programming of the cultural complex, on Saturday (April 18th), from 3 pm to 5 pm, the Ziraldo Municipal Library, located inside the City of Arts, opens its doors for the launch of the book "It's not weirdness. It's autism!", which addresses small adaptations and changes in perspective that can transform the learning experience for children on the autism spectrum. On the occasion, psychologist and author Ana Carolina Praça will hold a discussion about the challenges and possibilities in the inclusion of students with autism. The activity is free and open to the public.
"II Festival What Moves You?"
The event fosters unique encounters between artists of different generations and disciplines – music, theater, photography; in addition to talks at the Ziraldo Municipal Library, a yoga class, an exhibition, and a workshop. The exhibition “Sou Down, Soul Up” presents the work of young photographers with Down syndrome, revealing an intimate, sensitive, and surprising Rio de Janeiro. Creating a meeting space where music transforms into connection, listening, and discovery, singer-songwriter Luís Carlinhos presents his project “Macatchula,” with pocket shows and musical workshops for children and families, along with percussionist Mila Schiavo. And there will also be guided yoga! It's “Sopro da alma” (Breath of the Soul), a musical meditation with Lívia Villela and Rodrigo Sha. Several activities take place simultaneously, such as circus acts, short shows, wheelchair dancing with the Holos Company, part of the front commission of the Ambassadors of Joy School, and DJs Marcelinho da Lua and JP, who has Down syndrome, liven up the event, which also features a gastronomic area.
Conceived by advertising executive Caio Leitão – who is the co-founder of Embaixadores da Alegria, the world's first samba school for people with disabilities, active for 20 years – the festival was designed for all disabilities and has an accessibility team made up of experienced professionals who worked at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
While artists are moving towards inclusive art, there are those who are making others move. This is the case of Dr. Tatiana Sampaio, a Brazilian biologist and researcher at UFRJ, recognized for developing polylaminin, a molecule with the potential to regenerate spinal cord injuries. She will participate in the panel “Encounters that move” on Saturday (April 11th), alongside Caio Leitão, moderated by Bel Kutner. The guests on Sunday (April 12th) are the Ceará-born accordion player with visual impairment, Guilherme Dantas, and two atypical mothers – actress Yohama Eshima and visual artist Maria Teresa Stengel, founder of the NGO One by One, focused on serving underprivileged children with cerebral palsy.
At the festival, instrumental music takes on new paths with Jonathan Ferr, Bossacucanova, Guilherme Dantas, Rodrigo Sha, Alfredo Del-Penho, Johnatha Bastos, Trio Capitu and guests, creating unique formations designed especially for "O Que Move Você?".
Under the theatrical direction of Bel Kutner, the festival presents two sensitive works that bring affection, autonomy, and humanity to the stage: the plays "My Love is Blind" and "My Body is Here," which bring together artists with and without disabilities in powerful scenic experiences.
Service: “II Festival What Moves You?”
Dates: Saturday and Sunday (April 11 and 12)
Time: from 15h to 21h30
Location: City of Arts (Avenida das Américas, 5.300 – Barra da Tijuca)
Tickets: free at www.sympla.com.br
"1st Blind Theatre Festival"
Unlike a conventional play, where the spectator first sees the scenery, which is then filled with movement and life, in Blind Theatre everything begins in deep, total darkness. After the actors enter, with their movement and use of space, the scenery is revealed in each person's imagination. During the performance, sounds, voices, and smells reach the spectators, always coming from different locations, giving the feeling that they are truly immersed in the scenic environment. These sensations are the path to understanding the plot, even though it takes place completely in the dark.
The cast consists of actors with visual impairments, actors with low vision, and sighted actors. For the safety of the audience, artists, and production staff, the darkened room where the performances take place is monitored full-time by a production staff member using infrared cameras, and an emergency lighting system is instantly activated in case of an emergency. All plays were written and directed by playwright Paulo Palado.
Service: “1st Blind Theatre Festival”
Dates and times:
April 16th and 17th – Thursday and Friday, at 8 PM
Play: – Wake Up, Love! (Age rating: 14 years)
April 18th – Saturday (two sessions) at 5 PM and 7 PM
Play: The Great Widower (Age rating: 12 years)
April 19th – Sunday (two sessions) at 5 PM and 7 PM
Play: Brighten (General Audience Rating)
Location: City of Arts (Avenida das Américas, 5.300 – Barra da Tijuca)
Tickets: free starting April 13th at www.sympla.com.br
More information and the full schedule at City of Arts website.
