Joga Bonito

Including this dance technique in my show allows me to transform sport into beauty and virtuosity. The movements of the body and feet, while reminiscent of football, no longer require a ball; they exist for their own sake in the beauty of their exaltation. It is a kind of moment of grace in which the athlete, like the dancer, subject to the judgement of the audience, practises prowess and shapes their own glory.

So, I am bringing five dancers onto the stage, including one freestyler, who will perform in this style mixed with the aesthetic that has always inspired me: breaking, with all its variations (footwork, toprocks and powermoves).

My ambition is to completely rethink the stage space: to break down the fourth wall, invite the audience to become actors in the play, and encourage interactivity between the stage and the spectators.

By breaking down social barriers, football, like dance, conveys ideals of brotherhood, bringing together a collective audience and emotions that are unanimously experienced at the same time. In a cathartic, but also civic and humanistic dimension, stadiums, like theatres, have always reshaped the contours of the world. A different world, imbued with a spirit of sharing and celebration, far removed from academic elitism and cultural codes.

— Moncef Zebiri