Dance not dance – archaeologies of new dance in Portugal

30 Oct 2023 – 25 Feb 2025

Dance not dance – archaeologies of new dance in Portugal is a programme dedicated to different manifestations of dance that seeks to frame what was referred to as Nova Dança Portuguesa [New Portuguese Dance] in the 1990s, without forgetting what was “new” about myriad occurrences throughout the 20th century. It tells about “dancing the nervousness of history”, essaying, through the dances, the contradictions of the time in which they were performed, while revealing other possible times.

Curated by João dos Santos Martins, Ana Bigotte Vieira, Carlos Manuel Oliveira and Ana Dinger, the programme is divided into three parts: a series of events (performances, films and talks), a book and an exhibition. Each spans the 20th and early 21st century, questioning, in its own mediality, linear representations of time, echoing the others and revealing the dances and their histories from different perspectives.

The (re)performances, films and talks series is organized with the collaboration of the National Ballet of Portugal (CNB), the Portuguese National Conservatory School of Dance (EDCN), the Portuguese Higher School of Dance (ESD) and the Lisbon Theatre and Film School (ESTC).

Resulting from a research begun in 2016, this is the 7th iteration of the project For a Timeline to Be – genealogies of dance as an artistic practice in Portugal.

The visual identity of the project was created and designed by Ana Baliza, with Ana Teresa Ascensão and Mariana Veloso.