From matinees in Niterói to international stages, Grupo de Rua's journey is inseparable from its roots. In this microsite, we go back in time to discover the entire journey from its beginnings to the present day.
BIRTH
From matinees in Niterói to international stages, Grupo de Rua's journey is inseparable from its roots. In this microsite, we go back in time to discover the entire journey from its beginnings to the present day.
After two years at the Helfany and Jania Academy, at the age of 16, the dancers looked for a new space to expand their artistic ambitions, such as representing the city at events in Brazil and abroad. With the generous welcome of Rose Mansur, who opened the doors of her academy, they held the first audition that would give life to the group.
On July 15, 1996, Bruno and Rodrigo's trajectory reached a decisive point with the founding of theGrupo de Rua de Niterói, at the Rose Mansur Academy.
1998
Jorge Sankler e Jorge Luciano Neres de Carvalho, gêmeos com um pé no circo e outro na cena hip hop, são conhecidos por suas acrobacias espetaculares.
Em uma ocasião, eles visitaram um treino do Grupo de Rua, liderado por Werneck, no colegio Salesianos, em Niteroi. Werneck e os Gemeos faziam alguns projetos juntos.
Durante a visita, um dos irmãos, executou uma manobra impressionante. Ele iniciou um mortal para trás, mas, em um movimento surpreendente, decidiu interromper a acrobacia no ápice e aterrissou suavemente em uma cama de mola. A cena inesperada deixou todos os bailarinos do Grupo boquiabertos, marcando o dia com um misto de suspense e admiração.
Visita dos Gêmeos
3rd teenage war
3rd teenage war
The Last Prophecy' marks the beginning of Grupo de Rua on the amateur dance scene
Since its formation, Grupo de Rua has wasted no time in marking its territory in the competitive world of dance festivals. With "The Last Prophecy", a choreography inspired by the predictions of Michel de Nostradamus, this choreography paved the way for a series of victories, with the group winning first place in all nine festivals in which they competed, eight in the state of Rio and one in Italy.
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From the street to tumbling
From the street to tumbling
From street to tumbling
The experience with professor Werneck
Between 1997 and 1999, the Grupo de Rua had the opportunity to learn Olympic gymnastics from the legendary Professor Werneck. He was one of the most respected instructors in the city, and also an important figure in Beltrão's life.
Bruno, who had been a student of Werneck's from the age of 7 to 12 at the Associação Atlética Banco do Brasil (AABB), met his mentor again at a crucial stage. The reunion rekindled Bruno's passion for sport and sealed an unprecedented partnership: in exchange for training, the group would perform at some of the gymnastics events he organized. After Werneck's death, Niterói City Hall created the Carlos Werneck Gymnastics Tournament, paying tribute to his legacy and keeping his memory alive in the artistic gymnastics community.
Metropole
1998
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1998
Metropole
"A Experiência", Grupo de Rua's third choreography, premiered with great anticipation at the Tapias Festival in 1997, at the Carlos Gomes Theater. After the previous piece, the group was eager to repeat the feat of winning first place. The choreography told the story of a scientist reflecting on her warnings, ignored by the scientific community, about an imminent catastrophe. In one of the moments of the performance, the Grupo de Rua created a scene with four gallons that turned on and off as the dancers stepped, creating a quartet of lights that drew thunderous applause from the audience. These gallons, which became a striking visual symbol of the show, were built by Bruno's father, João Marcos.
Competitions, events and TV
The early years of Grupo de Rua
In its first four years, the group performed at various events, from the arrival of Santa Claus at Maracanã to catwalk shows for Sebastião Raphael's collection. The GRN danced at events under the scorching sun on the beaches, and also made special appearances for brands such as Gillette and Danone. They appeared on television programs such as Show da Xuxa and Som Brasil, alongside artists such as Lulu Santos and Claudinho e Buchecha. They also took part in the Vida ao Vivo Show, on the Luiz Fernando Guimarães and Pedro Cardoso program, which were milestones in the group's history. In 2000, ending a productive phase of special appearances, the group paraded at the Sambódromo for Mocidade Independente in 2000.
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1998
Visiting the circus
Back in Niterói after their success at the ENDAS International Funk Festival, Grupo de Rua is preparing for a new challenge: taking part in a circus show at the Concha Acústica with renowned French director Pierrot Bidon. Enchanted by the group's talent, Bidon invites them to take part in "Circo da Madrugada", a show with 50 artists from different backgrounds. The season begins in Niterói in 2000 and extends to Lyon, France.
Pierrot Bidon was a visionary in the world of circus entertainment, best known for founding the iconic French circus Archaos, which revolutionized modern circus art in the 80s.
Bidon's style was fundamental to the development of the "new circus", a strand that emphasizes strong storytelling and aesthetic innovations, influencing generations of circus artists around the world. His work remains a legacy of creativity and daring, celebrated for radically transforming the public perception of what a circus show could be.
More about Pierrot Bidon
...and if you're driving, don't dance
In the midst of preparations for the show at the Concha Acústica in Niterói, during one of the rehearsals, Bruno made a decision that would change his role in the company.
Aware of his difficulty in reconciling the roles of director and dancer, Bruno spoke to Rodrigo about his intention to step away from the stage and devote himself exclusively to directing and choreographing. This early decision opened up space for Bruno to explore his potential as a leader and creator, propelling Grupo de Rua to new heights. From then on, Bruno devoted himself entirely to directing and choreography.
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1998
Steps to first flight
1998
In 1998, the GRN presented their choreography "Metrópole" at the Bienal do Livro in Rio Centro, when Alfredo Appicella, an Italian who owned a dance academy and was the creator of the ENDAS International Funk Festival in Naples, was in the audience. Delighted by the performance, Appicella invited the group to compete in Italy, although he didn't offer them the necessary plane tickets.
Without giving up until the end, the group's producers Norma and Ana managed to get support from the Rio de Janeiro state government. In exchange for committing to future workshops and performances, the group was awarded 14 plane tickets, paving the way for their first international trip.
And in the competition, the Street Group won first place out of ten groups from all over Europe, with this becoming the last competitive festival the Group would take part in.
Bruno, Rodrigo e Rachel Correa, na Faculdade da Cidade, feveireiro 2000.
The trip had several celebratory moments, but one had a special flavor. After catching the eye of a judge watching the presentation, the GRN was invited to a pizza barbecue, the city's emblematic dish, which began with the Margherita invention during the 19th century. Overlooking the Bay of Naples, the group experienced the authenticity of the local recipe, a way to close the trip and celebrate the victory.
Post-flight turbulence
Upon returning to Brazil, Bruno, Rodrigo and producers Norma and Ana found themselves in the middle of a storm. A group of mothers, worried about the safety of their daughters during a season in Italy, accused the group of a lack of communication, triggering an intense conflict. The situation escalated to the point of affecting the group's funding from Neltur, Niterói's sports and tourism company, which decided to suspend its 2,000 reais allowance given to the whole group.
As the confusion mounted, Bruno found himself at a decisive moment. In addition to the tension in the group, he was also at the end of his secondary studies, struggling to choose which university to attend. Disillusioned with the temporary and superficial projects he had been doing, Bruno dreamed of something more meaningful. He was torn between pursuing a degree in film or dance. Influenced by Vanessa and Tânia Mara, who were already at dance school, Bruno began to seriously consider the latter option.
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1998
Metropole
Created for the end-of-year show at the Rose Mansur Academy, GRN premieres 'Deus Trovão'.
But it was only the beginning, because after a while of tweaking and adding a few things here and there, "Deus Trovão" evolved into "Metropole". The choreography took the group to special appearances on TV shows and all kinds of events.
