The Balé da Cidade de São Paulo was created on February 7, 1968, as Corpo de Baile Municipal, initially with the proposal to accompany the Municipal Theater operas and to present works from classical repertoire. Under the direction of Antonio Carlos Cardoso in 1974, the company assumed the profile of contemporary dance that has maintained until today.
Since the 1970`s, the company has been a laboratory for constant research and development for Brazilian dance, renowned for encouraging its performers to become creators through choreographic shows, bringing to life some of the most renowned national choreographers.
The successful international career of the company began at the Biennale de la Danse Lyon in 1996. Since then its international tours have been acclaimed not only by dance critics as well as the audiences from all theatres and cities where has performed and has settled the company at the worldwide dance scene.
The company has in its repertoire works of renowned national and international choreographers and creators of the present time, among them Alex Soares, Alexander Ekman, Andonis Foniadakis, Angelin Preljocaj, Cayetano Soto, Germaine Acogny, Henrique Rodovalho, Ismael Ivo, Itzik Galili, Johann Kresnik, Jorge Garcia, Luis Arrieta, Luiz Fernando Bongiovanni, Mauro Bigonzetti, Ohad Naharin, Rodrigo Pederneiras, Sandro Borelli and Stefano Poda.
From 1999 to 2009, the company highlighted experienced and well-established dancers from its cast and has created the Cia 2, to form a group that sought the vanguard of contemporary dance trends, approaching choreographic languages through differentiated concepts and methods of the main company.
Its longevity and rigorous technical standards of its cast and artistic team attract important Brazilian and international choreographers interested in creating new works for their dancers and artists.
The set of achievements demonstrates the importance of its performances in the culture of São Paulo and Brazil. Currently, Ismael Ivo is the artistic director of the company.
Ismael Ivo
The dancer and choreographer Ismael Ivo was the director of the Dance sector at the Venice Biennial for eight years. At the German National Theatre, he also acted as a director as well as a head choreographer. He founded, directed and artistically advised the ImPulsTanz Festival in Vienna, and founded the project Biblioteca do Corpo (Body Library). He has also been a guest professor at Max Reinhardt Seminar, at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, and the artistic director for the Roma Contemporary Choreography Competition. In Brazil, Ivo is the artistic director for the City Ballet of São Paulo, but also acts as an artistic curator for the Dance Qualification Project, a program by São Paulo’s State Department of Culture.
Summary 1968 / 2020 – 52 years
218 choreographed pieces
177 original creations for the BCSP (City Ballet of São Paulo)
40 remakes of pieces created for other companies
27 remakes of pieces from the BCSP repertoire
33 original creations and 03 remakes from Cia 2
27 participations in operas
121 pieces created for choreography exhibits
07 pieces created at exhibits and later incorporated to the repertoire
58 awards
17 countries visited throughout 22 years of international touring
78 different cities in Europa, Asia, Middle East,South America and North America
20 guest dancers
346 dancers
Ensaiadoras
Carolina Franco, Roberta Botta
Maître de Balé Clássico
Liliane Benevento
Gustavo Lopes*
Professor de Yoga
Stella Crippa*
Pianista
Beatriz Francini
Coordenador de Acervo do Balé
Raymundo Costa
Coordenação Técnica
José Hilton Jr.
Coordenadora de Iluminação
Sueli Matsuzaki
Operador de Som
Leandro Lima
Contrarregra
Alessander Rodrigues
Secretária
Doralice de Queiroz
Assistente Administrativa
Fabiana Vieira Rezende
Fisioterapia
Reactive*
*Prestadores de Serviço
The auditioning information for aspiring new members of the City Ballet of São Paulo are disclosed on this very page as well as on the Theatro Municipal’s social media accounts. Follow our networks and stay tuned for opportunities.
