Marcela Levi & Lucía Russo “3 against 2: Pyscho-Tropics”, 2023. Press photos. Courtesy of the artists. Photos © Renato Mangolin

3 against 2: Psycho Tropics


The rhythms of 3 against 2 constitute a polyrhythmic element found in both electronic and Afro-Brazilian music. Within feminist discourse, polyrhythms serve as visual representations of the rhythms of traditionally marginalized groups and act as challenges to dominant historical narratives."3 against 2: Psycho Tropics," a new creation by Marcela Levi & Lucía Russo / Improvavél Produções, employs polyrhythms to enable the coexistence of different rhythms. According to Ailton Krenak, the tropical rainforest is inherently polyrhythmic and serves as a source of inspiration for Psycho Tropics.

"3 against 2: Psycho Tropics" is an exercise of the imagination that seeks to weave together distant elements. This performance unfolds through the collaboration of three performers, creating a network where tense lines and temporal distortions define empty spaces, intervals, suspensions, pauses, and resonant moments within a nonlinear narrative. Its aim is to merge geometry and psychedelia.

The Old Way Vogue style is characterized by formations, symmetry, and precision, taking inspiration from Egyptian hieroglyphics. Nijinsky's first choreography, "L'Après-midi d'un faune," draws inspiration from the movements depicted in Greek friezes, Egyptian and Assyrian frescoes. In both Old Way and "L'Après-midi d'un faune," a strong erotic element is present.

Imagine if the Faun from forest myths and Nijinsky's ballet encountered the Old Way style of the Vogue movement, which, in turn, met the ancestral frescoes, possibly carrying traces of the Oxumarê dance. What if the echo of the name of the god Pan – Pan Pan Pan Pan – resonated in Beethoven's fifth symphony? Would the audience erupt in excitement, or would it lead to Pan Pan Pan Panic, a frenzy of terror and chaos?

CREDITS

Concept and direction
Marcela Levi & Lucía Russo

Performance and co-creation
Lucas Fonseca
Martim Gueller
and performer to be announced 

Guest performer and dramaturgical interlocution
Joana Levi

Assistance
Lucas Fonseca

Light design and technical director
Laura Salerno

Sound design
Levi & Russo and Gueller

Costume design
Levi & Russo

Production
Improvável Produções

Co-production 
Julidans, CCN de Caen en Normandie dans le cadre de l!Accueil-studio, Retomada Cultural RJ 2/Secretaria de Estado de Cultura e Economia Criativa/Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Espaço Cultural Sítio Canto da Sabiá, Something Great

Support
Centro Coreográfico da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro/Secretaria Municipal de Cultura, O Rumo do Fumo

Distribution
Something Great