Erva Daninha & Binaural Nodar

The show is a reflection on the changing times, on the rhythms and handicrafts that we are losing, in the growing technological drift. Deep down, it is an enormous compliment to the ancestral rural world, especially that of the villages of Lafões, made of cyclical rhythms, constant gestures and a desire for prosperity and abundance resulting from agricultural work.

The work takes an agricultural implement, the hoe, as the symbol and main motif of the entire show, which ends with the live or recorded interpretation of two themes by the Grupo de Cantares de Vermilhas (Municipality of Vouzela), which was chosen as living example of an authentic expression of rural song in which many of its themes are directly related to phases of agricultural cycles (sowing, knitting, defoliation, etc.).

A meeting between two structures from different regions of different social, economic and political contexts. Erva Daninha is a company from the city of Porto integrated in a cosmopolitan urban context, while Binaural/Nodar is a structure from the region of Lafões (district of Viseu) whose work focuses on the experimental in a rural context. Drinking from these two realities, we seek a cross between the two paradigms, the two rhythms, the two sound and movement landscapes.

The original idea for this project came from an invitation from Teatro Viriato to carry out a show in co-creation with Binaural/Nodar and a group of students from Escola Secundária de São Pedro do Sul. In just 3 weeks, “E-nxada–do que sous e do dois” appeared, one of the 3 shows for the Circus Lab project integrated in Pegada Cultural–art and education (EE Grantes / DGArtes). From this work with the community comes the desire to continue the project and create this “E-nxada” project in several phases over the course of more than a year. Working towards the ultimate goal of debuting a contemporary circus stage show based on plastic and sound installation around a nuclear element with immense expressive power: the hoe. Thus, during 2016 we presented various stages of creation in public space in different cities, in April we presented the final result of the investigation carried out.

Companhia Erva Daninha’s mission is to create a contemporary circus exploring the dialogue between different expressions of performing arts. It focuses on the investigation of new ways of making and presenting circuses, seeking to elevate virtuosity to a way of communicating ideas and emotions. It was officially born in January 2006 by former ESMAE students, integrating the original movement of Fábrica da Rua da Alegria. Artistic creation is the focus of the Company, which already has more than 15 shows for stage, alternative space and public space. Erva Daninha has also dedicated itself to training and programming. Organizes Corrente Alterna in 2013 in co-production with TNSJ, Trengo Festival de Circo do Porto in 2016 and 2017 in co-production with Porto Lazer, Porto City Council. He is currently a resident structure at Teatro Municipal do Porto through his Teatro em Campo Aberto residence project.

Binaural Nodar is a contemporary cultural project founded in 2004 operating in the region of Viseu Dão Lafões, in the areas of sound/multimedia creation, audiovisual heritage documentation, sound education, creation for radio, publications and cultural programming. Binaural Nodar is an active member of the Tramontana Network of memory archives of European rural areas, the SOCCOS Network of artistic residencies in sound art, the SUSPLACE Network of multidisciplinary research. The association is also part of the newly created Viseu Dão Lafões Cultural Network together with Teatro Viriato, ACERT, Cine-Clube de Viseu, Teatro do Montemuro and Companhia Paulo Ribeiro. Binaural Nodar received, among others, the following distinctions: Miguel Portas Award 2014; Innovative project chosen by the Presidency of the Republic as part of the 2014 Day of Portugal celebrations; Attribution of the CECEL seal of European cultural merit by the Council of Europe to the Paivascapes #1 festival held in 2010 and 2011.