Brazilian dance group Primeiro Ato brings a free show about time, memory and transformation to São Paulo’s iconic Avenida Paulista.
Water as a metaphor for time
Grupo de Dança Primeiro Ato, based in Belo Horizonte, arrives in São Paulo with Como Água (Like Water) — a dance work that uses the element of water to explore the passage of time, memory, and the human capacity for transformation. The short season runs at Teatro do Sesi-SP, on Avenida Paulista, from February 26 to March 1, 2026, with free admission.
Directed and produced by Suely Machado, the group’s founder and artistic director for over 44 years, and with choreographic conception by Marcela Rosa, the piece presents a non-linear narrative that moves through human contrasts and transforms chaos into poetry. Five performers aged between 25 and 55 bring multiple generations and distinct physical experiences to the stage.
“It’s a mature cast, even though some are young. They all have strong stage presence, and that is what matters most to my work.” — Suely Machado, artistic director of Grupo Primeiro Ato
From nature to the body
Choreographer Marcela Rosa led an immersive laboratory process with the dancers, observing the natural elements and translating them into movement. Flow, energy, delicacy, and strength became scenic qualities that speak directly to life’s cycle: being born, maturing, and aging.
“It was a process of observing the elements of nature and creating from that — the many qualities that exist outside and inside us. This gives us the possibility of continuous transformation.” — Marcela Rosa, choreographic conception and dancer
For Suely Machado, water as a starting point goes beyond its visible flow. It also represents the ephemeral nature of daily life and all that cannot be recovered.
“No one dives into the same water twice. The passage of time — which refers to something that does not return — and how we use that ephemeral quality in everyday life to try to be as conscious as possible: these are the themes that run through the work.” — Suely Machado
Score, lighting and costumes
The original score was composed by Federico Puppi, blending strings, percussion, and urban soundscapes. At key moments, additional tracks surface as sonic markers of memory and passing time. Lighting design by Sara Salgado evokes aquariums, currents, storms, and empty spaces, expanding the aquatic universe of the piece.
Costumes by former group dancer Pablo Ramon lean into transparency and lightness to reinforce the idea of fluidity. Minimal gestures, subtle shifts, and precise actions — central to Suely’s direction — carry symbolic and emotional depth in every scene.
44 years of dance excellence
Founded in 1982, Primeiro Ato has become a landmark of artistic plurality in Belo Horizonte and across Brazil, embracing dance, theater, mime, literature, and visual arts. In 2013, the group received the Ordem de Mérito Cultural (Order of Cultural Merit) from Brazil’s Ministry of Culture for its significant contributions to Brazilian culture. Dancers play an active role in creating each work, giving the group its signature gesture-driven dramaturgy.
Event Info
Como Água — Grupo de Dança Primeiro Ato
Season: February 26 – March 1, 2026
Times: Thursday to Saturday at 8 PM; Sunday at 7 PM
Venue: Teatro do Sesi-SP — Av. Paulista, 1313, Jardins, São Paulo, Brazil
Duration: 50 minutes
Age rating: General audiences
Tickets: Free — reservations via Meu Sesi
Photo: Guto Muniz
