Adoçar

“Where I come from, people used to, or still do, use the word ‘adoçar’ (‘to sweeten’) as a synonym for washing. ‘Have you sweetened yourself yet? Go and sweeten yourself!’ I think this beautiful comparison comes from the idea of removing the salt and sweat from the body, making it sweet, and using equally sweet water to do so. This piece is an exercise in pure observation. In this way, I create a dance focused solely on the body and its movement. Adoçar explores the idea of cleansing. Of creating space that gives rise to openness. Openness to observation.”
— Ana Isabel Castro

Ana Isabel Castro graduated from the Escola Superior de Dança in Lisbon and attended FAICC – Advanced Training in Choreographic Performance and Creation at Companhia Instável. She has worked alongside artists including Esther Balfe, Saju Hari, Georg Blaschke, Jonathan Uliel Saldanha and Joclécio Azevedo. She has created works such as Marengo (2019), Iceberg (2021) and Pechisbeque (2023), and was the first winner of the Dance category of the Prémio Jovens Artistas Coliseu Porto Ageas.

The performance was presented at Theatro Circo’s Small Auditorium on 14 November 2025, as part of the Braga 25 Portuguese Capital of Culture programme.

Watch the video about the project here.