To commemorate International Dance Day, on the 29th of April 2011, CNB (the National Ballet of Portugal) presented an ensemble of nine original short pieces created for the company’s dancers by nine of the most important Portuguese choreographers: Clara Andermatt, Francisco Camacho, Benvindo Fonseca, Rui Lopes Graça, Rui Horta, Paulo Ribeiro, Olga Roriz, Madalena Vitorino and Vasco Wellenkamp.
Bringing together these choreographers, with different backgrounds and choreographic styles, created the opportunity to associate the quality of the highly trained and disciplined bodies of the company’s dancers with a wide range of approaches to contemporary dance. Bernardo Sassetti made the link between the nine short pieces, interpreting compositions of his on the piano.
In her choreography, called “Deriva”, Clara Andermatt explores the tensions and the almost violent encounters and partings of the bodies of the dancers Irina Oliveira and Shang-Jen Yuan, and their articulation with the space and the other singular presence on stage: Bernardo Sassetti on the piano.
A film of this choreography, bearing its name, was made with the direction of Aurélio Vasques and Bernardo Sassetti. The film was awarded “Best Portuguese Film” (InShadow Lisbon Festival 2015) and it was programmed for the 24th edition of MEDIAWAVE Internacional Festival – Another Connection (2014).