Inspired by the rave scene and traditional Portuguese dance, Marco da Silva Ferreira and his cast of 10 performers move between past and present.

CARCAÇA explores tools of cultural construction through the encounter of Portuguese folk dances and contemporary street/clubbing dances.

What do we want to preserve; what do we want to transform; and what do we want to forget?

CARCAÇA is shortlisted for the Rose International Dance Prize, a brand-new biennial prize created by Sadler’s Wells for original dance creations in any style from across the globe. Sadler’s Wells will present the four shortlisted pieces on its main stage 29 February – 8 January 2025, each work selected for its inventive and daring choreography.

Marco da Silva Ferreira was a professional swimmer, prior to discovering street dance in his hometown at the age of 16. He received a degree in physiotherapy before fully dedicating himself to dance, first as a dancer and then as a choreographer from 2015. It was after winning the Portuguese version of So You Think You Can Dance that Marco moved from commercial to contemporary dance, working with acclaimed choreographers such as Hofesh Shechter.

Dance Umbrella Festival audiences may have previously seen Marco’s work førm inførms, part of Via Katlehong’s Via Injabulo, performed at Sadler’s Wells in 2023.

Artistic director and choreographer: Marco da Silva Ferreira

Art consultant: Catarina Miranda

Dancers: André Garcia, Fábio Krayze, Leo Ramos, Marc Oliveras Casas, Marco da Silva Ferreira, Maria Antunes, Max Makowski, Mélanie Ferreira, Nelson Teunis, Nala Revlon

Lighting design: Cárin Geada

Sound and technical director: João Monteiro

Music: João Pais Filipe (drums) Luís Pestana (electronic music)

Costumes: Aleksandra Protic

Scenography: Emanuel Santos

Anthropological studies : Teresa Fradique

Folk dances: Joana Lopes

Production management: Mafalda Bastos

Production: Joana Costa Santos, Mafalda Bastos

Production structure: Pensamento Avulso

Broadcast: ART HAPPENS

Co-presented by Sadler’s Wells, Dance Umbrella & Big Pulse Dance Alliance

Co-production: Teatro Municipal do Porto; Centro Cultural de Belém; Big Pulse Dance Alliance, co-produced by New Baltic Dance (Lithuania), Julidans (The Netherlands), Tanz im August/HAU Hebbel am Ufer (Germany), Dublin Dance Festival (Ireland) and ONE Dance Week (Bulgaria), co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union; Centre Chorégraphique National de Caen en Normandie; La briqueterie – CDCN du Val-de-Marne; Maison des arts de Créteil; KLAP- Maison pour la danse; CCN-Ballet National de Marseille; Charleroi danse, centre chorégraphique de Wallonie – Bruxelles; December Dance (Concertgebouw and Cultuurcentrum Brugge); La rose des vents – scène nationale Lille Métropole – Villeneuve d’Ascq; TANDEM Scène Nationale Arras-Douai

Support: República Portuguesa – Cultura, DGARTES – Direção Geral das Artes

Artistic Residencies: A Oficina (Guimarães), Ballet National de Marseille, Escola Superior de Dança (Lisbon), O Espaço do Tempo (Montemor-o-novo), Teatro Municipal do Porto