In 2007 the choreographer Alice Ripoll was teaching dance in an NGO for boys from a carioca favela. They were about 18 years old, had a hip hop group, and became interested in contemporary dance. The NGO finished its work, so they decided to go on by themselves, with no sponsors or support, rehearsing in an old church in the favela where they lived. Alice showed the piece that they were developing to a curator of Panorama’s Festival in Rio, who decided to put it on the programme. After this successful piece, the group never stopped creating, mostly without support, but always with a lot of strength and passion, during all these years, becoming a reference in Brazil of a company that elaborates and recreates contemporary art. With director Alice Ripoll and the performers Alan Ferreira, Leandro Coala, Tony Hewerton, Luiz L.A. and Romulo Galvão the group composed three contemporary dance shows, including (aCORdo).

Alice Ripoll is a Brazilian choreographer and director of the groups Cia REC and SUAVE.  Born in Rio de Janeiro, she studied to become a psychoanalyst until the age of 21 and then took a deviant path and started studying dance, as she felt very curious about the body’s possibilities and movement research. Alice Ripoll graduated at Angel Vianna’s school, an important centre for dance and motoric rehabilitation. Her works have been performed at several festivals in Brazil, as well as internationally.