BODY-DANCE-SONG: THE VOICE WORK AND RITUAL SONG IN BIMPHADI
Voice; Body-Dance-Song; Bimphadi Group; Ekwendje; Angolan Theater.
The present research stems from an investigation developed by the actors-researchers of Bimphadi, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Artes da Cena, based in Luanda, Angola. The objective of the research is to investigate the voice work of the group taking as a reference the body-dance-song, an element present in the dances, songs and other cultural manifestations of the Nhaneka people. Specifically in this work, our focus is the Ekwendje, a male initiation ritual that brings in itself traditional songs and dances that will contribute to our cultural production in Bimphadi. Starting from an empirical methodology of an experimental character, we propose the deconstruction of the forms of European theater imposed on Angolan actors and we seek a path of our own, based on our experiences and our culture. Throughout the process, we were able to review the Bimphadi creation principles and structure a scenic work based on the elements studied. Finally, through ritualistic chants, we access and cross ancestral cultures to anchor the timelessness that intertwines vocality of the actor in the present moment.