Rui Moreira's Contributions to the Concept of “Danças Negras”

Abstract

In Brazil, the history of dance has over time, presented a narrative from a colonizing perspective, favouring the abandonment of Afro-referenced and indigenous peoples' contributions to the artistic field. As in other areas of knowledge, dance is no different. In view of this diagnosis, thinking about and researching dance and its imbrications with Afro-referenced heritage (as well as that of other minority groups) has become an urgent issue in Brazilian universities and other political and social spheres, as a way of mobilizing anti-racist reflections, tactics and practices. In view of this scenario and the current difficulty researchers have in understanding the term “danças negras”, this text aims to analyze how the São Paulo choreographer and black man Rui Moreira understands, lives and dances the aforementioned “danças negras” and how this term meets his artistic proposals as a concept and practice. To this end, we have used debates in the fields of dance studies, cultural studies and oral history as methodological tools to develop this work. In the end, we intend to contribute to the confluences and intersectionalities that contribute to understanding the concept of danças negras.