THE PLACE
A Cultural Center
THE PLACE is a Cultural Center that was opened in May 5, 2007, and its first activity was the dance performance “Gramática Expositiva do Chão“, inspired on the work by the poet from the state of Mato Grosso, Manoel de Barros, which was presented at 12:00 a.m. of that day, one of the performances included in the cultural event Virada Cultural da Cidade de São Paulo.
THE PLACE has been established due to the support provided to the Cia. de Dança Corpos Nômades by the 1º Programa de Fomento à Dança da Secretaria Municipal de Cultura da Cidade de São Paulo at the end of the year 2006. Such an acknowledgment by the Government of the artwork provided by the Company made it possible for the latter to lease a space in midtwon São Paulo, more precisely at 325, rua Augusta (Augusta street). This incentive allowed also Cia. Corpos Nômades to establish an alternative space for practicing and learning dance and other aspects of the visual and performing arts, as well as solved the chronic problem – the lack of an alternate venue for workshops, rehearsals and presentations of creations by the Company, enabling its interaction with other groups and dance artists by means of making exhibitions.
The name THE PLACE was given based on thoughts by Brazilian geographer Milton Santos on the lugarização (the choice of a space), the establishment of a territory, considered as the interchange between that that-is-already known and the space to be known, involving the traditions brought to the space, the identities at stake and the power relations.
In this sense, a reform, adaptation and restoration was performed on an long-time abandoned property built in the 30’s and whose facade is considered a National Heritage Site. The building was chosen due to its location – in a sense a privileged location as it is located in the central region of the city of São Paulo, with several types of public transport and a transit area for many people – and as a contribution by the Company to the recovery of the urban fabric of the region, the Baixo Augusta.
So a Cultural Center was created dedicated to the research, dissemination and training in contemporary dance. Since its opening, THE PLACE has been a Center, where members of the Company and other artists provide contemporary dance classes, performances are made and workshops are available, where exhibitions, improvisation and music venues take place, as well making the space is made available to other groups to rehearse. (History)
THE PLACE became a place of reference in contemporary dance and theater over time, it is included in the cultural agenda of the city, in the itineraries of theaters and theatrical spaces, as well as in cultural guides of major newspapers, magazines, websites and blogs dedicated to the performing arts. THE PLACE received the 2010 APCA (Associação Paulista de Críticos de Arte) award as a Model of a Space for the Dissemination of Dance. The artistic direction of THE PLACE is under the responsibility of João Andreazzi, dancer and choreographer from the city of São Paulo, founder of the Cia. Corpos Nômades.