SÔNIA LOPES SOARES
MISSION
Dance is the vehicle I use to discuss and reflect on human experiences. I search for vulnerable situations and states that suspend and place me between what could be considered serious and what could be considered ridiculous, exploring fiction as an extension of reality. The scenes I construct present nonlinear and poetic narratives, which mirror the chaotic nature of the universe. The body is explored as a reservoir of emotions, desires, and memories, and creates a vessel in which the extraordinary can live within the terrestrial and be transformed into communication. Image is explored cinematically, where words, voice, and action appear as if they were in front of a camera and being projected onto a large screen. The investigation explores human vulnerability, using the body and its actions to transform space and the mind in a surreal and humorous manner. I am interested in the connectivity among us as humans, and how it creates intensity and energy in our existence. Concepts such as passion, wildness, gender and affection are deeply engrained and the ability to allow ourselves to channel those emotions is explored: what rituals can we perform to allow ourselves to be affected by these forces?
“To look and not recognize anything or anybody, at the limit and at the edge of the abyss: the fantasy of reinvention and rediscovery. The possibility of rearranging space, and being able to see the world for the first time again.”
BIO
Sônia Lopes Soares is a Brazilian, choreographer, director, and performer based in New York City since 2014. She has been working with dance, performance and theater for over 25 years.
In 2003 she founded the cultural center Viga espaco cênico, and in 2005 she founded her company Cia Viga in São Paulo, Brazil.
Sônia received a grant from the British Council for the British Cultural Festival(2006). Her work “A place for Sarah” was honored with an award by the Council.
Soares also received grants in 2007, 2008 and 2010, from the city and state of São Paulo, (Fomento à dança and Proac) to develop, produce and perform her company’s work.
In 2011, 2012, Sônia in a artistic partnership with the actress Luciana Paes, created and presented the works “The Rooms”,
“Open House” and “I’d rather the ocean, the trailer”
Since 2014 she is been making work in NYC independently and founded her company Viga 212, in which she created the works “After Tomorrow”, I’d rather the ocean”, Dancing on their glittering mirrors”
In 2017, Sônia created a new work project during a four-month residency in Brazil, with a NY based performer and two Brazilians actors. In September 2017, she participated in a residency in Groningen Holland with Cia Hiato director by Leo Moreira.
Soares has performed in Brazil, Argentina, Peru, United States, France at Pompidou, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and has been showing her work in NY at Dixon Place, NDA/Performance Mix Festival, Judson Church at the Movement Research.
PROJECTS
DANCING ON THEIR GLITTERING MIRRORS: about dance, wind and fire (2018)
Dancing on the Glittering Mirrors is a piece that combines dance, theater, and visual arts. Using stories documented from intimate interactions in public spaces as its base, the piece explores the concepts of intimacy and passion, combining reality with fiction, and the extraordinary with the terrestrial.
Sônia Lopes Soares // director, choreographer, performer
Mercedes Searer // performer
Janet Panetta //performer
Charles Gowin//performer
Jiyoun Chang // lighting designer
Kuki Stolarsky //sound designer
Baille Younkman //costume designer
these violent delights have violent ends and in their triumph die, like fire and powder, which, as they kiss, consume.
therefore love moderately. long love doth so.
* Romeo and Juliet: act 2, scene 6
I'D RATHER THE OCEAN: About dance, high altitude and artificial breathing (2017)
In “I’d Rather The Ocean”, an eccentric group gets together with the mutual objective of performing a choreographed dance at the peak of the Himalayas, at an altitude of nearly 30,000 feet.
Walking up the mountain serves as a metaphor for life, a starting point for reflection, and a means for creation.
Sônia Lopes Soares // director, choreographer, performer
Mercedes Searer // performer
Christine Bonansea Salut // performer
Janet Panetta //performer
Jiyoun Chang // lighting designer
Kuki Stolarsky //sound designer
1st music// Mussorgsky-Night on the Bald Mountain
Baille Younkman //costume designer
AFTER TOMORROW (2015)
Sônia Lopes Soares // director, choreographer, performer
Luciana Paes // dramaturgy assistance
Mercedes Searer // performer
Kevin Fay // performer
Jiyoun Chang // lighting designer
Kuki Stolarsky //sound designer
Baille Younkman //costume designer
I'D RATHER THE OCEAN, THE TRAILER (2014)
A solo about dance documentary
Sônia Lopes Soares and Luciana Paes //conception and direction//
Sônia Lopes Soares //choreography and performance
1st music// Mussorgsky-Night on the Bald Mountain
Kuki Stolarski//sound design and original music
Amy Golembesky//costume design
Ji-youn Chang//lighting design
Tatiana Guimarães//video
Mariana Benedetto//sculptures and graphic design
MOUNTAIN, THE TRAILER (2014)
Sônia Lopes Soares// conception, performer
Patrick Caracas// director video
Amy golembeski//costume designer
OPEN HOUSE (2012)
Artist/real person performs/rm to spare/xtra bright & spacious, in the sky/private outdoors/ calif clsts/nr everything/needs your touch/don’t miss/ pano vus
Sônia Lopes Soares and Luciana Paes//Conception and Direction
Sônia Lopes Soares//Performance
Kuki Stolarski//sound design and original music
Ji-youn Chang//lighting design
Valdy Lopes Jn//costume designer
Production//Viga espaço cênico
Chapter 2 (2012)
Six years afrter “A Place for Sarah”, Cia Viga presents Chapter 2 with revised movement and new ideas.
Sônia Lopes Soares Conception and Direction
Sônia Lopes Soares and Tatiana Giuimarães//Performance
Kuki Stolarski//sound design and original music
André Boll//lighting design
Valdy Lopes Jn// set design and costume designer
Gabriela Giora// set and costume design assistence
Production//Viga espaço cênico
THE ROOMS (2011)
On a sunny day a woman walks through a place that no longer exists. In an attempt to turn things into reality, he plays and interact with the space and objects around her.
Sônia Lopes Soares and Luciana Paes//Conception and Direction
Sônia Lopes Soares//Performance
Kuki Stolarski//sound design and original music
Ji-youn Chang//lighting design
Valdy Lopes Jn//costume designer
Production//Viga espaço cênico
WILTED VIOLETS (2010)
British author Virginia Woolf is the starting point in the investigation of a movement capable of pluralizing the possibilities of sight. “Wilted Violets” invites the spectator to reflect about the irony involved in the human being’s constant necessity to adapt and fit into its environment.
Sponsored by Programa Municipal de Fomento à Dança - VII EDIÇÃO/2009, and Centro Cultural São Paulo Festival
Concept, direction and choreography: Sônia Lopes Soares Performers: Guilherme Jorge, Luciana Paes, Sônia Lopes Soares and Tatiana Guimarães. Choreography assistance: Rodrigo Vieira Set design: Valdy Lopes Jn Lighting design: Lucia Chedieck Costumes and visual design: Adriana Hitomi Original soundtrack: Erico Theobaldo Photos: Gal Oppido and Fernando Pião Production: Doble Cultura e Social Duration: 6o minutes
A PLACE FOR SARAH (2007)
“A Place for Sarah, or whatever Madame would like” combines concepts found in selected works by Sarah Lucas with Sonia’s extensive research on the human memory.
Concept: Sônia Lopes Soares Artistic coordination: João Miguel Artistic direction and choreography: Sônia Lopes Soares Performers: Sônia Lopes Soares and Tatiana Guimarães Set design: Valdy Lopes Jn Lighting design: Lúcia Chedieck Sound design: Erico Theobaldo Costumes and graphic design: Adriana Hitomi Photos: Gal Oppido and Willian Aguiar
Production: Cassia de Souza
Doble Cultura e Social Duration: 60 minutes
Sponsered by Festival Cultura Inglesa e Programa Municipal de Fomento à Dança
WORKSHOP
BODILY STATES AND THE DRAMATURGY OF MOVEMENT
The workshop will investigate the dramaturgy of movement and dissect the corporeality of the performer.
Through the construction of set movement structures in combination with improvisation, the performers/participants are stimulated to explore movement as a means to re-experience in their bodies a dilated scenic body language. Over the last few years, I have been researching the non-linear and disengaged narrative action of the fundamentals of logic and the role that memory plays as a tool for creation, exploring the necessity of communication by means of urgency in transmitting and transforming a situation, an image or space into the present.
Through such specific improvisation exercises and physical and theatrical activities, participants will develop the ability to create systems for movement by exploring different densities and states of bodily awareness, in order to become more creative and present performers.
CONTACT