Grupo Grial

Ballet

In 1997, Ariano Suassuna, together with Maria Paula Costa Rêgo, formed the Grupo Grial, which still today develops research and education regarding the language of gesture and choreography inspired by the cultural traditions of the Northeast of Brazil. Director, ballerina and choreographer, Maria Paula Costa Rêgo, has a degree in Dance by the Sorbonne, in France, where she lived for 11 years, and where, from 1991 to 1996 she performed and was choreographer for the Les Passagers group of aerial dance.

Upon her return to Brazil, she met Ariano Suassuna once again and he proposed that they create a group to open new possibilities for the Dança Armorial. The first performance presented was A Demanda do Graal Dançado, scripted by Ariano, with Manuel Dantas Suassuna as art and scenography director, and opened on March 18, at the Arraial Theater.

Since then, the Grial has always been active, and, throughout these years, Maria Paula has carried out 15 contemporary choreographies, using Armorial guidelines, and participated in national and international festivals. In 2012, her work Travessia, was indicated by the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper as the Best Performance, and, in 2013, she received the APCA award as the Creative Performer, for the performance Terra. At local festivals, Grial has also received several awards: interpretation, choreography, sound track, lighting, scenery, costumes and best performance. From 2007 to 2014, Maria Paula was also the Artistic and Choreography Director of the Grupó Arraial, which accompanied Ariano Suassuna during his performance-lessons.