Corumbá-born dancer Izabelle Paiva, 24, took part in an exchange program at the Cia. de Dança Deborah Colker (Deborah Colker Dance Company), in Rio de Janeiro. Izabelle is a dancer with the Cia. de Dança do Pantanal, created at the Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano, in Corumbá.

Izabelle’s story with art began in 2008, when she joined Moinho Cultural at age nine and took dance and music classes. Always focused on dance, she took part in courses and festivals, in addition to taking classes with major names in Brazilian dance, such as Chico Neller, Beatriz de Almeida, Joel de Oliveira (Cia de Dança Cisne Negro), Greydson Araújo (bringing the methodology of Grupo Corpo) and Rui Moreira.

“The (Moinho Cultural) project has huge importance in my life. It drives, it encourages, but not only that. It gives us a foundation. Márcia (Rolon, executive director) has always made a point of bringing in good, well-qualified professionals. I could see that when I left and had contact with other places. We’re in the countryside, but we can be anywhere. Everything I have as a foundation isn’t just my own merit. It’s a bit of every professional that Moinho Cultural brought into my background,” says the dancer.

About her exchange experience at the Cia. de Dança Deborah Colker, Izabelle says it was the fulfillment of a dream. “It was an incredible experience to be in contact with a body of work I’ve always admired. There were many challenges, but it was really wonderful. From the welcome, the way I was received, to the patience the professionals had in bringing me in. Sometimes we don’t realize how much art can move us. And it was thanks to art, to the foundation I have with all the Moinho Cultural professionals, that I was able to get there and grow. It was really great to be able to challenge myself this way,” the artist recalls.

In addition to taking part in classes at the company, the dancer from Mato Grosso do Sul was also invited by Deborah Colker to take part in a performance day with the Rio-based company. “They performed at Uerj and I got to take a class on stage before the performance and try some things out too. It was a really great opportunity during the exchange,” says Izabelle.

This year alone, Izabelle Paiva has also gone through immersions with Grupo Corpo and with dancer, choreographer and teacher Alex Neoral.

For Moinho Cultural’s executive director, Márcia Rolon, the training opportunities secured for the dancers of the Cia de Dança do Pantanal and also of OCAMP (Orquestra de Câmara do Pantanal) show that the work developed at the institution is solid.

“Our dancers, musicians and our conductor have taken part in immersions with major names in Brazilian culture, ranging from the Cia. de Dança Deborah Colker to the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira (Brazilian Symphony Orchestra), always with the help of key partners in our history, such as the Instituto Cultural Vale. This shows that the work developed within Moinho Cultural is solid and, above all, prepares them to always go further. Thanks to our partners, we have been able to ensure they leave Corumbá, take part in immersions and come back to share the knowledge they gained with everyone, as has always happened here at Moinho Cultural,” explains Márcia. – CREDIT: CAMPO GRANDE NEWS