“Five Choreographers on One Body” returns with Flávia Tápias and a new generation, challenging ageism and celebrating the mature body in contemporary dance.
Twenty years of a landmark in Brazilian contemporary dance
Espaço Tápias, one of Brazil’s leading centers for dance creation and training, opens its 2026 season with a powerful artistic gesture: the revival of “Five Choreographers on One Body” (“Cinco Coreógrafos em um Corpo”), a work originally created in 2006 by Grupo Tápias for dancer and choreographer Flávia Tápias. Performances take place on March 14, 15, 28, and 29 at the Sala Maria Thereza Tápias, in Rio de Janeiro.
Originally conceived in two versions — one featuring five Brazilian choreographers and another with five international creators — the project established itself as a landmark in the company’s trajectory. The premise was radical yet simple: different choreographic visions in dialogue with a single body, exploring its technical, expressive, and biographical singularities.
Two decades later, this revival is far from nostalgic celebration. It is a critical reinterpretation, directly confronting urgent issues such as ageism in dance and the invisibility of the mature body on stage.
Revisiting these solos is revisiting who I was and who I am today. There is a power in the mature body that needs to be seen and celebrated. Flávia Tápias
Ten solos, multiple dramaturgies
The new production brings together ten solos — five Brazilian and five international — presented in different combinations each night. Each performance becomes its own curated experience, reinforcing the vitality of the repertoire.
Among the revived works are pieces by leading names in international contemporary dance. “Light Piece / Copy That” by Pol Coussement (Belgium) investigates light, image, and perception, turning video into choreographic material. “Living Room” by Stéphanie Thiersch (Germany) creates tension between dream and confinement in an intimate, unsettling space.
From France, Thomas Lebrun contributes a solo inspired by the iconic Carmen Miranda, exploring the contradictions between public exuberance and private melancholy. From Israel, Rami Levi brings a work rooted in animal physicality. Together, these pieces reflect the broad aesthetic range that has positioned Grupo Tápias as a bridge between Brazil and the European dance circuit.
The Brazilian repertoire includes “Rede” by Giselle Tápias, which transforms a Brazilian cultural symbol into bodily dramaturgy; “Da Família dos Crocodilos” by Paulo de Moraes, a work of strong dramatic density; and “Semelhante” by Henrique Rodovalho, reinterpreted in 2025, in dialogue between musical structure and gestural freedom.
Legacy in motion: a new generation takes the stage
This season also marks a symbolic passing of the torch. Flávia Tápias shares the repertoire with dancer Letícia Xavier, from São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, who joined the company after an open audition and has been part of the ensemble since the project “Café Não é Só uma Xícara.” Flávia performs on March 14 and 28; Letícia takes the stage on March 15 and 29, presenting five solos.
The same choreographic material crosses bodies from different generations, revealing transformations, continuities, and displacements. This revival is not just memory — it is legacy in action.
Espaço Tápias: a hub for creation and training
Founded on April 30, 2022, on Avenida Armando Lombardi in Barra da Tijuca, Espaço Tápias was built with the mission of transforming lives through art. Under the direction of Giselle Tápias and Flávia Tápias — names recognized both in Brazil and internationally — the cultural center has become a hub for creation, research, and the circulation of contemporary dance in Brazil.
The space includes rehearsal and class studios, as well as the Sala Maria Thereza Tápias for performances and artistic gatherings. It also welcomes independent artists and teachers, fostering a collaborative environment for experimentation and exchange.
Event Info
Five Choreographers on One Body
Dates: March 14, 15, 28, and 29, 2026
Time: 7 PM (local time)
Venue: Sala Maria Thereza Tápias – Espaço Tápias – Rio de Janeiro
Address: Av. Armando Lombardi, 175 – 2nd floor, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro
Tickets: BRL 40 (full price) and BRL 20 (half price) via Sympla
Rating: All ages
Photo: Espaço Tápias, Press Release
