A Thread

A powerful dance performance exploring the concept of balance

Choreographer Jean Abreu combines forces with renowned sculptor Elisha Bracher, to create a powerful dance performance exploring the concept of balance.

"Elisa Bracher proposed the materials that are the building stones of A Thread: trolleys, weights, cables, sheets of a lead and one huge leaden ball. The five original dancers (Maria Fonseca, Stephen Moynihan, Yuyu Rau, Rosana Ribeiro and Lewis Wilkins) engage with these materials in a continuous game of constructing, deconstructing and reconstructing. They are builders, movers, wanderers, witnesses who try to find their way out of the labyrinth they have constructed themselves. They walk, balance, carry, cover, take risks and work together. As in ancient performance traditions, the materials are interfaces through which their bodies connect energetically. Through the manipulation of the materials the bodies try to find their own centre to ground themselves.

A Thread is both choreography and installation that brings alive Louise Bourgeois’ definition of the creative process: ‘to do, to undo, to redo’ as an artistic metaphor for our life’s experiences: ‘the weights we all carry in life and the centres of balance we are continuously looking for’ (Elisa Bracher)."

Guy Cools, Dramaturg, February 2016

Images of A Thread by Ambra Vernuccio

“Expect palpable tension as a danced dialogue between bodies and materials opens up, revealing the relationship between individuals and the physical space they occupy”

Teresa Guerreiro, Dance Editor, Culture Whisper

“Abreu’s fluent style of choreography combined with some strong visual moments creates an engaging work, while the development of an on-stage installation gives A Thread an edge.”

Rachel Elderkin, Dance Writer

Images of A Thread by Ambra Vernuccio

Thursday, 9 June 2016

The Hat Factory, Luton, UK

Friday, 14 October 2016

Lincoln Performing Arts Centre, University of Lincoln, UK

Friday, 4 November 2016

Late night sessions at SouthBank Centre, London, UK

Friday, 15 April 2016

World premiere, Auditorio Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo supported by Itau Cultural Foundation

Monday, 4 April 2016

Previews at Axis Arts Centre, Crewe MMU Cheshire, The Edge, Bath Spa University

Artistic Director and Choreographer Jean Abreu

Artist and Sculptor Elisa Bracher

Composer Heinali (Oleg Shpudeiko)

Dramaturg Guy Cools

Performers Maria Fonseca, Stephen Moynihan, Yuyu Rau, Rosana Ribeiro and Lewis Wilkins

Costumes Abdul Hamid

Lighting Designer Lee Curran

Producer UK Natalie Richardson for Konzept Arts & Ideas

Production Manager Dom Martin for Blueboxx

A Thread was supported by Balance Arts Centre China, Arts Council England, British Council Artists International Development Fund, Pavilion Dance Bournemouth, Bath Spa University, Lakeside Theatre Colchester, Swindon Dance, Bath Dance & Hat Factory, Luton.

Artists Biographies

Elisa Bracher Graduated in Fine Arts at Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado. During her last year in university, she studied engraving with Evandro Carlos Jardim. Elisa started to exhibit her prints in 1988, at the 8a Mostra de Gravura da Cidade de Curitiba, Paraná. She received the Prêmio Brasília de Artes Plásticas - Medalha Miró/Picasso, at the 12o Salão Nacional de Artes Plásticas, sponsored by Unesco. Elisa works with printmaking, sculpture and drawing, and has pieces in a variety of public spaces, in Brazil and internationally. Elisa has exhibited solo works at the Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro, Galeria Millan & Centro Cultural São Paulo.

Oleg Shpudeiko (Heinali) is a music composer and performer from Kiev, Ukraine. Born in 1985, he started composing music under Heinali moniker in 2003. Oleg is self-taught, with no academic background and as worked as a music composer professionally since 2009, writing for art installations, photo exhibitions, performances, movies and choreography. He has released two albums on labels Arlen (2010) and Fluttery (2012) and a series of self-released material. In 2012, he formed the ‘Blook’ duo with classically trained composer and pianist Alexey Shmurak which explores interdisciplinarity, actively collaborating with artists and VJs. Oleg performs live free improvisations with different instruments-sound objects and electronics.