Chegada

Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company produced this film as part of its fifteenth anniversary season in 2014. Choreographer and dancer Daniel Gwirtzman returned to Brazilian soil in the summer of 2013 after exactly ten years thanks to a two-month fellowship from the Sacatar Foundation. One of many collaborations made while in Bahia, the film Chegada, which means arrival in Portuguese, highlights the beauty of the natural landscape and Gwirtzman’s immersion in it.

In Daniel’s words: “Editing the film I was reminded of what it was like to be in that climate.  The sunga, or swimsuit, became a daily uniform and costume in this series.  The residency was about stripping away layers, literally and figuratively.  Pier shows me as a dancer, choreographer and filmmaker fervent to take advantage of a wooden plank jutting into the Bay of All Saints (the Atlantic Ocean), should the elements conspire in perfect harmony.   First, it was the rainy season, which more than lived up to its name.  Then, there was the sun.  What kind of light?  Then the tide.  The highest high tide of each month only stuck around for a few hours on a few days; for half of the month the tide was high in the middle of the night.  A full tide during daylight, at sunset, without rain. Timing was key.  And when the elements conspired, we ran.  Enjoy this sensory piece that will definitely transport you to the gorgeous idyll that is Itaparica and Bahia.”

To read the Travelblog that Daniel kept during his residency click HERE.