GRN/DOC
From matinees in Niterói to international stages, Grupo de Rua's journey is inseparable from its roots. In this microsite, we go back in time to discover the entire journey from its beginnings to the present day.
SCAFFO
Early 90s
In early 1993, Bruno and his friends explored the dance scene in the city of Niterói, attending the Scaffo nightclub, a popular place among young dance lovers. Influenced by the movements of MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice, Michael Jackson in addition to R&B and New Wave that echoed in the club, Bruno, initially reticent, gradually became enchanted with the practice. Observing his friends Rodrigo, Nathan, Allan from afar, he developed a passion for dancing that would eventually shape his future career.
They even created a group together with friends from the street called Power Dance, in San Francisco, where they were neighbors and rehearsed steps to perform at Scaffo on weekends, at Clube Naval.
In a chance meeting, Bruno and Rodrigo find themselves face to face in an almost comical silence. Bruno, waiting for Nathan, and Rodrigo, waiting for Allan, Nathan's brother, sat down at a table that seemed to be conspiring for the meeting.
And as if by magic, without exchanging a word, his fingers found the rhythm in a spontaneous drumming that started on the table.
Improvised, born out of nowhere, it became the soundtrack of a meeting that would mark the beginning of a great friendship and a long artistic collaboration that would last for years.
The batucada that brought Bruno and Rodrigo together
Destiny Touching the Table
In 1994, after a year of going to Scaffo nightclub, Bruno and Rodrigo were surprised by something new brought by their friend Douglas. Thanks to him, they learned that an American teacher taught hip hop classes at the Ativa academy, in Icaraí. But this information was not very accurate. In fact, the teacher was the Israeli Yoram Zsabo, who did not teach hip hop, but rather a type of Street Jazz.
Yoram Szabo, was a Jazz and Hip Hop teacher who worked between New York and Brazil in the 90s. Originally from Israel, Yoram honed his dancing, singing and theater skills in New York and Philadelphia, bringing his classes to renowned academies in the Rio de Janeiro, like Carlota Portela and Enid Sauer. His dance style, developed in the gyms, is a mix of New Jack Swing and Jazz. On the streets of New York, he was known for his light, loose movements that emphasized fun and physical exercise, accessible to students of all technical levels. Yoram Szabo left a lasting impression before ending his teaching career, planning courses in cities like Salvador and Aracaju, and solidifying his role as an influencer in the spread of Hip Hop in Brazil.
From the nightclub to the gym
Two years after starting classes with Yoram, who did not return to Brazil to continue his workshops, Bruno and Rodrigo found themselves faced with the challenge of maintaining their dance practice. Faced with the absence of a mentor, they made an unusual decision: to start teaching dance.
Encouraged by their teenage friends, Vanessa Motta and Tania Mara, who regularly attended one of the oldest and most renowned gyms in Niterói, they were introduced to teacher Helfany Peçanha who allowed Bruno and Rodrigo to start teaching at the gym, at the age of 15, in 1995.
Teaching to learn
In the same year, they choreographed their first work created for the end of the course at the Helfany and Jânia academy with the song Now that we found love by Heavy D and the Boys.
The first choreography
In the same year that they started teaching, they choreographed their first piece for the end of the course at the Helfany and Jânia academy with the song Now that we found love by Heavy D and the Boys.
In 1994, Bruno and Rodrigo began teaching children at the Helfany Academy. They soon noticed the stark contrast between teaching children and adults. Concerned about the safety of the little ones, they took care to adapt each movement.
On the other side of the world, in China, it was a different story. Dance training there is known for being rigorous from an early age. Young dancers are molded in a regime of severe discipline, where skills are sculpted under the weight of extremely high expectations. Injuries and emotional exhaustion are often seen as necessary sacrifices in the quest for artistic perfection.
Bruno, Rodrigo, Allan e Nathan no final da apresentação, em Niterói.
