Performance and dance: Boi da Manta and the dramatic practice of the actor-dancer by Geraldo Vidigal

Abstract

In this work, two objectives intersect: on the one hand, comment, discuss and  repertoire some genealogical, theoretical, methodological and cultural aspects  underlying the popular celebration, known as “Boi da manta”, organized and assembled by the group “Irmandade dos Atores da Pândega ” of the city of Lagoa Santa in Minas Gerais; on the other hand, make an exposition of the performance practice carried out by the group, in its affiliation relationship with Geraldo Vidigal’s dance-theater. The paper, in view of this, consists of three parts: in the first and second parts the two thematic axes mentioned above are presented and developed respectively (comments on the “Boi da Manta” and exposition of the performance practice adopted by the group), while the third part will take the form of an oral presentation and interviews with the founder of the group, Gercino Alves Batista
(who also worked with Geraldo Vidigal), on the one hand, commenting and recording the constitution of the ‘Boi da Manta’ within the activities of the group ‘Irmandade dos Atores da Pândega’ in Lagoa Santa, on the other hand, discussing and reflecting on the issues and specificities of ritual performance, ritual as performance and dramatic practice involving theater and dance, performed by Geraldo Vidigal.