In 2018, Davi Pontes and Wallace Ferreira joined forces to create a trilogy of choreographies centered on self-defense against physical, imaginary, and epistemological violence. "Repertório n.3," the final installment of this trilogy, premiered in December 2023 at the 35th São Paulo Biennial.
The "Repertório" trilogy seeks to deconstruct the concept of generalized violence and introduce new perspectives on understanding and portraying the experiences of marginalized groups. Drawing from postcolonial, gender, and race studies, this research challenges violence and strives to eradicate it.
Throughout the trilogy, Davi Pontes and Wallace Ferreira explore how the body, shaped by its experiences, develops the ability to defend itself. How can violence be portrayed without endorsing it? By bringing this choreographic repertoire of self-defense to life, the artists aim to stimulate thought and provoke discussion through physical expression—offering various strategies of resistance as a resilient and impactful way of existing in the world while inspiring imaginative possibilities.
CREDITS
Choreography and performance
Davi Pontes & Wallace Ferreira
Management and Distribution
Something Great
Co-commissioned by
35th São Paulo Biennial – Choreographies of the Impossible; Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain
Supported by
ImPulsTanz - Vienna International Dance Festival; Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain; Tanzhaus NRW; Kondenz Festival; La Becque.
BIOGRAPHIES
Davi Pontes is an artist, choreographer, and researcher working at the intersection of visual arts and choreography. He studied art at the Universidade Federal Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro and at the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espectáculo in Porto, Portugal. Since 2016, Pontes has showcased his work internationally in art galleries and festivals. In 2022, alongside Wallace Ferreira, he received the Young Choreographers’ Award [8:tension] at the ImPulsTanz Festival in Vienna. His practice examines the connections between choreography, racial identity, and self-defense, engaging audiences to reflect on historical narratives.
Wallace Ferreira is a multidisciplinary artist with a background in dance and visual arts. They studied at the Escola Livre de Artes da Maré and Artes Visuais do Parque Lage in Brazil. In 2022, alongside Davi Pontes, Ferreira received the Young Choreographers’ Award [8:tension] at the ImPulsTanz Festival in Vienna. Their work has been shown internationally in art galleries and festivals. Ferreira's creations defy conventions and explore the intersections of movement, performance, voguing, and visual imagery.