City Ballet premieres Crossroads, dance as resistance

Crossroads, Renan Martins’s new choreography for São Paulo City Ballet, celebrates collective movement as political gesture at Theatro Municipal in March.

São Paulo City Ballet kicks off its 2026 season with the premiere of Crossroads, a creation by Renan Martins presented at the Main Hall of Theatro Municipal from March 14 to 22. The piece explores encounter, celebration, and tension, placing collectivity at the center of artistic and social dialogue.

Dance as meeting point

Performed with live music by EPX and Alana Ananias, the work weaves gestures from collective imagination and popular bodily practices, evoking ancestral archives of movement. The dramaturgy is by Iolanda Sinatra, with Helena Araújo assisting choreography, lighting by Jo Rios, and costumes by Tom Martins. Sponsored by Nubank, the piece invites reflection on coexistence through motion.

In an individualistic and competitive world, Crossroads turns collective movement into a political and creative practice. Between pauses, collisions, and agreements, dancers build a shared rhythm from constant negotiation.

Open rehearsals and audience dialogue

Before opening night, the project “Almost On Stage: Crossroads” takes place March 3, 5, and 6 at 11 a.m. at Praça das Artes. These open rehearsals offer audiences a behind-the-scenes view of the creative process, with free admission by prior registration.

During the season, the “Before the Scene” program will be held in the Salão Nobre one hour before performances. Scholar Luiz Rufino leads reflections on dance, colonialism, and popular knowledge on March 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22, deepening the audience’s understanding of contemporary movement practices.

Service

Crossroads, by Renan Martins São Paulo City Ballet — Main Hall, Theatro Municipal

Dates and times: March 14–15 (5 p.m.) March 18–20 (8 p.m.) March 21–22 (5 p.m.)

Tickets: R$13–R$100
Duration: 70 minutes, no intermission
Age rating: All ages

Photo: Rafael Salvador