Paulo Caldas creates a play on the São Paulo megalopolis. He  shows a city "with angular routes and architecture, offered at the  speed, the multiplicity of optics and the fragmentation of bodies." The dancers move in a setting of video projections and on the rhythms of the voice of Maria Bethania.

Source: Maison de la Danse

Considered the most agitated dancer-choreographer in Brazilian dance, Paulo Caldas began studying classical dance at the national school of Maria Olenewa in Rio de Janeiro (1988-1991). In 1993, he began taking contemporary dance lessons from the choreographer Regina Miranda. At the same time, he studied philosophy at the University of Rio de Janeiro and began researching aestheticism in theatre and choreography. He also enrolled in the Angel Vianna contemporary dance school. He created "Transverso" for the company Sociedade Masculina in 2007.

In June 1995, he won first prize at the young choreographers’ competition in Rio de Janeiro for his creation and interpretation. In 1996, he and his company Staccato Dança Contemporânea (1993) went to Japan and Germany, where he received second prize for young choreographers in Hanover. In October of the same year, he received a grant for developing a research project on the writing of movement, from cinematography to choreography. He has received numerous awards recognising his artistic talent. He regularly organises dance workshops in Brazil and also teaches dance history. 

Source: Maison de la Danse show program

Author, filmmaker and video artist Charles Picq (1952-2012) entered working life in the 70s through theatre and photography. A- fter resuming his studies (Maîtrise de Linguistique - Lyon ii, Maîtrise des sciences et Techniques de la Communication - grenoble iii), he then focused on video, first in the field of fine arts at the espace Lyonnais d'art Contemporain (ELAC) and with the group « Frigo », and then in dance.
   On creation of the Maison de la Danse in Lyon in 1980, he was asked to undertake a video documentation project that he has continued ever since. During the ‘80s, a decade marked in France by the explosion of contemporary dance and the development of video, he met numerous artists such as andy Degroat, Dominique Bagouet, Carolyn Carlson, régine Chopinot, susanne Linke, Joëlle Bouvier and regis Obadia, Michel Kelemenis. He worked in the creative field with installations and on-stage video, as well as in television with recorded shows, entertainment and documentaries.

His work with Dominique Bagouet (80-90) was a unique encounter. He documents his creativity, assisting with Le Crawl de Lucien and co-directing with his films Tant Mieux, Tant Mieux and 10 anges. in the 90s he became director of video development for the Maison de la Danse and worked, with the support of guy Darmet and his team, in the growing space of theatre video through several initiatives:
       - He founded a video library of dance films with free public access. This was a first for France. Continuing the video documentation of theatre performances, he organised their management and storage.
       - He promoted the creation of a video-bar and projection room, both dedicated to welcoming school pupils.
       - He started «présentations de saisons» in pictures.
       - He oversaw the DVD publication of Le tour du monde en 80 danses, a pocket video library produced by the Maison de la Danse for the educational sector.

       - He launched the series “scènes d'écran” for television and online. He undertook the video library's digital conversion and created Numeridanse.

His main documentaries are: enchaînement, Planète Bagouet, Montpellier le saut de l'ange, Carolyn Carlson, a woman of many faces, grand ecart, Mama africa, C'est pas facile, Lyon, le pas de deux d'une ville, Le Défilé, Un rêve de cirque.

He has also produced theatre films: Song, Vu d'ici (Carolyn Carlson), Tant Mieux, Tant Mieux, 10 anges, Necesito and So schnell, (Dominique Bagouet), Im bade wannen, Flut and Wandelung (Susanne Linke), Le Cabaret Latin (Karine Saporta), La danse du temps (Régine Chopinot), Nuit Blanche (Abou Lagraa), Le Témoin (Claude Brumachon), Corps est graphique (Käfig), Seule et WMD (Françoise et Dominique Dupuy), La Veillée des abysses (James Thiérrée), Agwa (Mourad Merzouki), Fuenteovejuna (Antonio Gades), Blue Lady revistied (Carolyn Carlson).

Source: Maison de la Danse de Lyon

Artistic direction : Vera Lafer

Creation: 2003

This all-male Brazilian company was created in 2003 and invites the cream of Brazilian and European choreographers to portray the traits of contemporary men without restriction. Founded by Vera Lafer, dancer and dance lover, the company was created in Studio3 – Espace de danse in Sao Paulo, a school for perfecting and training dancers where Anselmo Zolla gives classes. At the end of 2003, Anselmo Zolla, today artistic director with Ivonice Satie, created a choreography called Sociedade Masculina with some of the men who attended his classes. He saw that he could develop a world that was seldom explored by choreographers.    

He decided to pursue the adventure with those same few dancers by founding the eponymous company. For 8 years a dancer, Anselmo Zolla prefers to remain an "organiser of dance”, creating new choreographies and inviting choreographers into the company. Apart from the prejudices that stigmatise male Brazilian dancers, Sociedade Masculina has for three years established itself as an all-male company. Comprised of 8 dancers, the company’s objective is to enhance male dance while going beyond clichés. The dancers participate in the presentation of a choreographic world made of non-ostentatious heroism, athletic virtuosity and strength. Anselmo Zolla and Ivonice Satie have been able to make themselves heard, appreciated and also to integrate renowned choreographers (Henrique Rodovalho, Deborah Colker, Paulo Caldas, Jorge Garcia, Ivonice Satie, Anselmo Zolla, Andonis Fionadakis...). Today the company has a dozen shows in its repertoire. Exploring the movement that the body can create, and also of its intimate universe, its secrets and of course its weaknesses, the work of the Sociedade Masculina unrestrainedly highlights the traits of contemporary man au naturel.   

Source : Biennale de la Danse press file 2008

More information : sociedademasculina.com