52 BLUE, Francisco Thiago Cavalcanti and Um cavalo disse mamãe
52 BLUE
Francisco Thiago Cavalcanti and Um cavalo disse mamãe
6 September
9.30pm
70 minutes
Black Box, Central Elétrica
A dance solo by Francisco Thiago Cavalcanti, inspired by the existence of a blue whale known as 52 Blue. This unique whale, the only one of its kind, emits a sound frequency of 52 hertz — an anomaly still unexplained by science. A typical blue whale communicates at frequencies between 15 and 20 hertz. Because of this, 52 Blue cannot interact with others of its species — its frequency is unbearable to them. From this fact, Francisco creates a narrative inhabited by ghosts, loneliness, pain, sadness, illusion, play, enchantment, and imagination. The work is grounded in personal archives, dances he has performed, soundscapes, unspoken discursive desires, and the poetic translation of his neurodivergent condition. Francisco is autistic — and Francisco is also a blue whale, with very particular frequencies.
Artistic Info
Performance, creation, and direction: Francisco Thiago Cavalcanti
Dramaturgical collaboration and assistant direction: Piero Ramella
Creative dialogue: António Pocinho Rivotti, Daniel Pizamiglio, Francisca Pinto
Mentorship: Ntando Cele, Nadia Beugré
Lighting design and technical direction: Luís Moreira
Set and costume design: Francisco Thiago Cavalcanti
Soundscape: Gustavo Portela
Music: Vapor Barato (Jards Macalé, Waly Salomão), Tired of Being Alone (Al Green), Love Is a Losing Game (Amy Winehouse), La Strada (Nino Rota)
Video: Gustavo Portela / Varanda Criativa
Photography: Jamille Queiroz
Voice and body support: António Pocinho Rivotti, Laya
Executive production: Sinara Suzin (Alkantara)
Production: Alkantara
Co-production: Alkantara
A project by the collective Um cavalo disse mamãe
Acknowledgements
Vânia Vaz, Bárbara Cordeiro, Sara Paternesi, Yaw Tembe, Walesca Timmen, Isabelle Maciel, Clarissa Rêgo, Javier Cuevas and team
Support
Alkantara, In Ex(ile) Lab – Creative Europe, Santarcangelo Festival/European Festivals Fund For Emerging Artists, La Caldera and Teatro da Voz/Real Pelágio
Bio
Francisco Thiago Cavalcanti is a Brazilian dance, theatre, and performance artist — queer, neurodivergent, and non-white. He lives in Portugal, where he co-founded the independent, multidisciplinary, and cross-border collective Um cavalo disse mamãe, alongside Piero Ramella, Bárbara Cordeiro, and Francisca Pinto.
In Brazil, he worked for seven years with choreographer Lia Rodrigues. He was a participant in PACAP 5 at Forum Dança, curated by João Fiadeiro, where he presented the piece Também se matam cavalos at TBA (Teatro do Bairro Alto).
