The Portuguese Suite (2006)

The Portuguese Suite is composed of nine dances all constructed in relation to both medieval love spells involving a particular herb or fruit considered by early herbalists to possess magical properties and a traditional Portuguese fado song recorded by the legendary Portuguese chanteuse Amália Rodrigues. It is said that this particular style of singing known as fado (or “fate") was born from the half singing, half weeping laments of the wives of sailors who set sail and left them alone on the mainland for long periods of time. These dances, for two ethnically diverse men and a chorus of seven carpideiras or “weeping women," explore the broad emotional range from ecstatic to dolorous and from tender to dangerous within inter-cultural relationships between male lovers. The work, with costumes by Carol Binion, set is by John Bianchi, and lighting by Carol Mullins was commissioned by Danspace Project for première performances there from May 18th-21st, 2006.

*This video is an excerpt from the complete work.

*This video is an excerpt from the complete work.

*This video is an excerpt from the complete work.

*This video is an excerpt from the complete work.

*This video is an excerpt from the complete work.

*This video is an excerpt from the complete work.

 

Original Cast:

O MARINHEIRO AMERICANO (the American sailor):
Christopher Williams

O MARINHEIRO PORTUGUÊS (the Portuguese sailor):
Andrei Garzón

A NOIVA (the bethrothed):
Jennifer Lafferty

AS CARPIDEIRAS (the mourning women):
Renée Archibald, Laura Arrington, Omagbitse Omagbemi, Rebecca Serrell, Derry Swan, & Darla Villani