Photo: Renato Mangolin
With every major paradigm shift — such as the arrival of artificial intelligence — society feels its structures tremble and senses the need to reorganize itself. What will we become? What are we still? With each great discovery, we ask ourselves: are we moving forward or backward?
In ADORNO, the audience is carried by a group that advances and retreats in waves, like the very movements of history. How can we conceive of a human collective that, to define itself as such, would presuppose some degree of homogeneity, when among 8 billion individuals no two are alike? The smallest difference seems to impose itself like a prism that multiplies infinitely in order to produce singularity. Singularities that collide like waves toward one another in search of similarities.
Here, adornment evokes the trivial choices each of us makes — our little ornaments,
In ADORNO, the audience is carried by a group that advances and retreats in waves, like the very movements of history. How can we conceive of a human collective that, to define itself as such, would presuppose some degree of homogeneity, when among 8 billion individuals no two are alike? The smallest difference seems to impose itself like a prism that multiplies infinitely in order to produce singularity. Singularities that collide like waves toward one another in search of similarities.
Here, adornment evokes the trivial choices each of us makes — our little ornaments,
whims, indulgences — even though, in Rio's
Carnival, adornment may take on grand dimensions within a collective composition.
The scenes unfold in a dreamlike atmosphere, in a constant zoom in/zoom out, confronting what we perceive as most singular — our memory, our body, our affections (our internal tidal waves) — with an ideal of a possible society, or even with the blindness of the multitude.
Who takes part in the unfolding of history? Who is the subject of history? And of one’s own life?
In Portuguese, the word ADORNO (in English “adornment” or “adornation”) means something that can be used to make something more attractive, such as a decoration, ornament, or accessory. If we separate the syllables, we can read “há dor no”, which means “there is pain in the…”
Carnival, adornment may take on grand dimensions within a collective composition.
The scenes unfold in a dreamlike atmosphere, in a constant zoom in/zoom out, confronting what we perceive as most singular — our memory, our body, our affections (our internal tidal waves) — with an ideal of a possible society, or even with the blindness of the multitude.
Who takes part in the unfolding of history? Who is the subject of history? And of one’s own life?
In Portuguese, the word ADORNO (in English “adornment” or “adornation”) means something that can be used to make something more attractive, such as a decoration, ornament, or accessory. If we separate the syllables, we can read “há dor no”, which means “there is pain in the…”
Photo: Reneto Mangolin
Director
Alice Ripoll
Dancers
Alan Ferreira, Hiltinho Fantástico, Katiany Correa, Romulo Galvão, Tamires Costa, Tuany Nascimento
Assistant for direction, set design, and costumes.
Thais Peixoto
Production Director
Joana D’ Aguiar
Light designer
Tomas Ribas
Set designer
Aurora dos Campos, Alice Ripoll
Costume
Alice Ripoll, Thais Peixoto
Production Assistant
Isabela Pixoto
Stand In
Alisson Trindade
Alice Ripoll
Dancers
Alan Ferreira, Hiltinho Fantástico, Katiany Correa, Romulo Galvão, Tamires Costa, Tuany Nascimento
Assistant for direction, set design, and costumes.
Thais Peixoto
Production Director
Joana D’ Aguiar
Light designer
Tomas Ribas
Set designer
Aurora dos Campos, Alice Ripoll
Costume
Alice Ripoll, Thais Peixoto
Production Assistant
Isabela Pixoto
Stand In
Alisson Trindade
Rehearsal Assistant
Tony Ewerton
Teachers
Camila Moura, Laura Samy, Pedro Lima
International difusion
ART HAPPENS
Co production
Festival Dias da Dança, Theater Rotterdam, PACT Zollverein, Charleroi Danse
Dates 2026
ADORNO (world premiere)
18.04.2026
Porto (pt)
Teatro Municipal do Porto
ADORNO (world premiere)
19.04.2026
Porto (pt)
Teatro Municipal do Porto
ADORNO
24.04.2026
Rotterdam (nl)
Theater Rotterdam
ADORNO
25.04.2026
Rotterdam (nl)
Theater Rotterdam
ADORNO
29.04.2026
Essen (de)
PACT Zollverein
ADORNO
30.04.2026
Essen (de)
PACT Zollverein
18.04.2026
Porto (pt)
Teatro Municipal do Porto
ADORNO (world premiere)
19.04.2026
Porto (pt)
Teatro Municipal do Porto
ADORNO
24.04.2026
Rotterdam (nl)
Theater Rotterdam
ADORNO
25.04.2026
Rotterdam (nl)
Theater Rotterdam
ADORNO
29.04.2026
Essen (de)
PACT Zollverein
ADORNO
30.04.2026
Essen (de)
PACT Zollverein