A History of Dance

CISNE NEGRO DANCE COMPANY

One of the most important contemporary dance companies in Brazil, Cisne Negro Dance Company combines originality and tradition. The Company mirrors its home town - São Paulo: cosmopolitan, urban and a magnet for its many races and cultures. The company’s style explores and integrates diverse elements into its work. Brazilian black and folk traditions meet the contemporary atmosphere of a megalopolis.

The Cisne Negro Dance company, formed in 1977 by Hulda Bittencourt, numbers among the pioneering and most important dance companies in Brazil. Among its outstanding features are the diversity and innovation constantly displayed throughout its 42 years of existence.

Some striking data of its trajectory:

  • It has performed before an audience of more than 2.5 million people;
  • In 17 different countries;
  • In more than 400 cities;
  • A total of around 4.000 presentations.

A TOOL FOR

SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

The Company’s repertoire has always been strongly influenced by contemporary dance and it has worked together with a variety of choreographers of varying styles and backgrounds. It has always encouraged and supported young Brazilian choreographers and has welcomed a number of international talents, including many whose work was hitherto unknown to the Brazilian public. These guest choreographers include Vasco Wellenkamp (Portugal), Gigi Caciuleanu, Patrick Delcroix (France), Mark Baldwin (United Kingdom), Ana Maria Mondini, Dany Bittencourt, Denise Namura, Tíndaro Silvano, Mário Nascimento, Rui Moreira and Antônio Gomes (Brazil), Pieter de Ruiter and Eva Villanueva (the Netherlands), Júlio Lopes and Luis Arrieta (Argentina), Michael Bugdahn (Germany), Victor Navarro (Spain), Barak Marshall and Izik Galili (Israel).among a number of others.

WORK RECOGNITION

AWARDS

FELLOWSHIP OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE OF LONDON

Awarded to the founder of CISNE NEGRO DANCE COMPANY, Hulda Bittencourt on 15 July 2019, in a ceremony in London, at the Imperial College, in Kensington, one ot the highest honours bestowed by this institution, for her work of excellence in favour of the ART OF DANCE IN BRAZIL.

WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2014

Awarded to Hulda Bittencourt by the Centre of Industries of the State of São Paulo (CIESP) and the Brotherhood Alliance Aca Laurentia, the award honours women who excel in a wide range of professional and philanthropic activities.

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF SAO PAULO FOR CULTURE

“The Nutcracker”: Best Dance Spectacle 2012 – Popular Preference.

THE ORDER OF IPIRANGA

The highest honour of the State of São Paulo was awarded to Hulda Bittencourt in 2010. This medal recognises Brazilian citizens and foreigners for their personal merits and significance of services rendered to the State of Sao Paulo and its people.

FOLHA ON LINE GUIDE

Forrolin / Abacadá choreography by Dany Bittencourt for Cisne Negro, was elected the best show of 2009 in the online election by user vote sponsored by the Folha Online Guide

DANCE THEATRE AWARD EDITION 2008/2009 – DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE FOR THE STATE OF SÃO PAULO

Vem Dançar and The Nutcracker were voted among the 12 best dance performances.

A.P.C.A AWARD

Cisne Negro Dance Company – 25 years.
Cisne Negro Dance Company – 20 years.
Best Dance Company and Best Choreography.
Best show for “Clip 15”.
Best Dance Company.
Best Dance Performance – Best Choreography (Hulda Bittencourt).
Most Promising Dance Company.

BANDEIRANTE AWARD

Award for “Personality of the Year in Dance”- Awarded to Hulda Bittencourt for her work as artistic director of the Cisne Negro Dance Company.

BRAZILIAN ART AND CULTURE AWARD

Awarded by FUNARTE as cultural incentive.

FIAT AWARD AND APCA AWARD

Awarded to the company for its work throughout the year. Included amongst the ten best dance companies in the 80’s by the journal “O Estado de São Paulo”.

VISITED

COUNTRIES

Cisne Negro Cia de Dança

ARGENTINA – 2010, 2009, 2003, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1993, 1992, 1991 – Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Córdoba, Corrientes, Jujuy, La Pampa, Mar del Plata, Mendoza, Posadas, Endurance, Rosario, Salta, San Juan, Santa Fe, Tandil, Terms of Rio Hondo, Tres Arroyos, Tucuman

CANADA – 1992 – Quebec City, Ottawa

CHILE – 2000, 2006, 2008 – Temuco, Santiago

CHINA – 2013–Beijing – 2017- Xiamen – Brics Arts Festival

COLOMBIA – 2012- Bogotá

CUBA – 2006 – Havana, Cien Fuegos

ENGLAND – 1998, 1986 – Brighton, London

GERMANY – 2014, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2006, 2000, 1998- Wonfelbütel, Schweinfurt, Fellbach, Bad Kissingen, Bielefield, Bonn, Coesfeld, Gütersloh, Hagen, Leverkusen, Lufwigshafen, Offenburg, Saarlouis, Scwinfurt, Siegen, Viersen, Villingen, Wiesbaden Worms

MOZAMBIQUE – 2004 – Maputo

PARAGUAY – 2004 – Asunción

RUMANIA – 2014 – Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu

SCOTLAND – 1986 – Aberdeen

SPAIN – 1985 – Osuna, Estepa, Sevilla, Dos Hermanos

SOUTH AFRICA– 2004- Durban, Pretoria, Cape Town

THAILAND – 2010 –Bangkok

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – 2011, 2005, 2001, 1998,1988 – Aspen, Miami, New York

URUGUAY – 2010, 2009, 2007, 1998,1994, 1992 – Montevideo

CISNE NEGRO DANCE COMPANY

CREDITS

Artistic Director: Hulda Bittencourt and Dany Bittencourt

Rehearsals Director: Dany Bittencourt

Directors: Hulda Bittencourt, Maria Luiza Crivelaro, Alison Steel

Rehearsals Assistant: Patrícia Alquezar
Guest Ballet Masters / Mistresses:. Alex Soares, Armando Duarte, Boris Storokov, Christian Camus, Daniela Severian, Denise Siqueira, Demis Moretti, Felix Valentim, Gisele Santoro, Henrique Lima, Lorena Merlino, Luciana Vigneron, Márcio Rongetti, Mário Nascimento, Mônica Kodatto, Paula D’Ajello, Sara Mazon, Roberto Amorim, Sérgio Marshall, Simone Ferro, Tereza Augusta, Vladimir Condereche.

Dancers: André Santana, César Dias Cirqueira, Felipe Silva, Fernando Souza, Gabriela Evangelista, Isabel Lima, Isabelle Dantas, Júlia Poletto, Larissa Ferreira, Renato Lima, Willian Gásparo.

Pianists: Maria Inês Vasconcellos, Nilza Fernandes
Costumes: Camarim Artigos para Dança – Giselle Bittencourt / Só Dança

Makeup: Chloé Gaya – Jacques Janine

Costume Coordination: Anarita Grigório do Nascimento
Photography: Marcelo Vigneron, Mauro Turzi, Reginaldo Azevedo, Tainâ Sousa Costa, Tomas Kolisch Jr

Technical Manager: Eduardo Ferreira Paes Jr

Controller: Ivana dos Santos

Executive Consulting: Maria Aparecida Fiorentin
International Consulting: Maria Fernanda Safadi, Fernando Bittencourt Hersan

Administrative and Production Assistant: Raquel Murano

Doctors: Dr. Afonso Pereira, Dr. João Buarque de Hollanda