The Pathways of Oxalá

Dance-theatre performance

The dance theatre The Pathways of Oxalá by Murah Soares and his ensemble tells a story about the deities, the so-called Orixás, of the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé religion. Based on the ancient Ifá religions of West Africa, the spiritual African traditions have continued to be cultivated there through enslavement and deportation to the Americas and have experienced specific manifestations, such as Candomblé in Brazil. The wisdom and mysteries of life are passed on through the stories of the Orixás and serve as a guide for people in life.

The type of storytelling in Murah Soare's dance theatre performance is not comparable to European storytelling traditions. Different genres of artistic expression find a common platform here: performing arts meet dance, song, percussion and mime. With his latest performance, choreographer and dancer Murah Soares aims to contribute to the decolonisation and rehabilitation of ancient African spiritual traditions through artistic means.

Murah Soares (he/him) has been considered one of the great Afro-Brazilian dancers in Europe for many years. Born in São Paulo/Brazil, he grew up in his grandmother's Candomblé temple in Salvador da Bahia, where he was initiated into the ritual chants and dances of the Afro-Brazilian religions from his earliest youth. His studies in classical ballet and modern dance led him back to São Paulo, where he subsequently established an excellent reputation in Afro-Brazilian dance as a dancer, teacher and choreographer. He came to Germany in 1990 at the invitation of the Tanzfabrik Berlin and has since realised various music and dance productions of his own with other renowned artists, which have taken him to large parts of Europe and as far as Mexico and Korea. His group of over 200 members: Afoxé Loni has traditionally opened and led the Karneval der Kulturen in Berlin for over 16 years. In recent years he has staged several dance theatre performances from the African pantheon of gods, most recently the highly acclaimed Olubajé - Banquet of Healing, premiered at the Gropiusbau Berlin.

presented by Forum Brasil

Sonntag, 28. November
Einlass: 16:30 Uhr / Beginn: 17 Uhr
Kuppelhalle
Tickets only at the box office