PROJECT

The Maré Free Dance School (ELDM) was founded in October 2011, at the Maré Arts Center (CAM). A result of the partnership between Redes da Maré and the Lia Rodrigues Companhia de Danças, the school aims to expand residents' access to art and culture as a right. It operates through educational and professional training activities, such as dance workshops, exhibitions, music showcases, discussion circles, dance and theater performances, among other activities.

The project receives around 300 students annually. They are children, youth, adults, and elderly people, aged 6 to 85 — most of them residents of the Maré favelas. Residents from other parts of the city also have the opportunity to experience dance through open workshops, ranging from creative dance to Brazilian folk dances, with instructors who are constantly training.

In this project, the art of dance is treated as a form of knowledge. In this sense, the space seeks to foster professionalization through Núcleo 2 — the Ongoing Dance Training Center — which promotes exchanges with national and international schools, as well as the creation of artistic- pedagogical exercises alongside the Lia Rodrigues Companhia de Danças.

The school has been encouraging the growth of activities aimed at children and youth. In 2025, four new classes were opened for children and teenagers aged 6 to 14. The new groups offer classes in Creative Dance, Capoeira, Children's Ballet, and Beginner Children's Ballet. All of ELDM’s programming is free and open to the public.

IN OCTOBER 2023, THE FREE DANCE SCHOOL OF MARÉ COMPLETED 12 YEARS!
TWO WORK NUCLEUSES GUIDE THE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:

Ballet class with teacher Sylvia Barreto

#Nucleus 1 - Open Workshops

This unit offers ongoing workshops in ballroom dancing, street dances, contemporary dance, classical ballet, yoga, body awareness, and Brazilian folk dances. The classes are intended for Maré residents of all ages. The project also carries out external activities and sharing circles, in addition to the “Open Doors Week” — an annual event that brings together school groups for a day of performances, giving participants the chance to present their creative processes in dance to their families.

Photo: Carol Pires

#Nucleus 2 - Ongoing Dance Training Center

A program of continuous technical, artistic, and professional training, with theoretical and practical classes. The curriculum includes residencies and workshops with national and international guest artists, classes in classical ballet, contemporary dance, yoga, Afro-Brazilian dances, and direct engagement with a professional company, the Lia Rodrigues Companhia de Danças. Over 105 students have graduated from Núcleo 2. The program is a reference in the dance field and its main goal is to broaden the participants’ horizons.

SEE HERE

See the full schedule of Maré's Free Dance School

NÚCLEO 1 – OPEN WORKSHOPS

Children's Ballet
Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 PM to 6 PM (8 to 14 years old)

Beginner Ballet
Thursdays from 5 PM to 6 PM (8 to 14 years old)

Youth/Adult Ballet
Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 PM to 7 PM

Body Awareness
Mondays from 10 AM to 11 AM

Creative Dance
Tuesdays from 5 PM to 6 PM (6 to 8 years old)

Capoeira
Tuesdays from 6 PM to 7 PM (6 to 12 years old)

Folk Dances (samba, jongo, carimbó)
Wednesdays from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM (10 years and up)

Rhythm Class – Contemporary Dances
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM to 10 AM (10 years and up)

Beginner Urban Dances
Mondays and Wednesdays from 7 PM to 8 PM

Intermediate Urban Dances
Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 PM to 9 PM

Ballroom Dances
Thursdays from 6 PM to 7 PM

Theater in Communities
Saturdays from 10 AM to 12 PM (8 years and up)

NÚCLEO 2 – ONGOING DANCE TRAINING

Monday to Friday from 2 PM to 5 PM – (ages 16 to 24) Note: Admission by selection process during registration periods.

Registration is in person at the Maré Arts Center –

Rua Bittencourt Sampaio 181 – Nova Holanda, near Av. Brasil – at walkway 10

Bring with you: Bring with you: copy of ID, CPF, and proof of residence

Photo 01: Presentation at Open Doors Week, at the Maré Arts Center, in 2023. Photo 02: Student and Redes da Maré weaver Handy Rosa.

Visit of the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès, in 2019, partner of the Intensive Training Center.

Choreographer Lia Rodrigues and the director and founder of Redes da Maré, Eliana Sousa, dreamed together of a space dedicated to the arts — specifically, the performing arts — for Maré. The meeting between the choreographer and Redes made possible the creation of the Maré Free Dance School, in partnership with university professor Silvia Soter. Headquartered at the Maré Arts Center — inaugurated in 2009 — the School develops, daily, ongoing activities with the purpose of democratizing access to art.

Centered on dance as a way to ensure the rights and cultural access of Maré’s people, the School bets on the reach of its actions and the effort to shape a critical narrative about dance. The activities developed by the young participants are closely tied to the Lia Rodrigues Companhia de Danças, from the artistic process to student selection, teacher choice, and the project’s executive coordination. The students receive a training that goes beyond physical practice, aiming to equip them with a set of tools for ethical, creative, and solidarity- based intervention in the social field. here.

VIRTUAL MEMORY OF THE MARÉ FREE DANCE SCHOOL

We’ve made available on the Redes da Maré YouTube channel some classes that were recorded during the pandemic, so that you who are far away or unable to come to the Maré Arts Center can also access them.

WATCH THE VIDEOS HERE

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT ELDM

Commemoration of the 12th anniversary of the Free School of Dance on November 9, with an open event. With a conversation circle, contemporary dance performance and old-fashioned dance with DJs JP Black and Júlio Rodrigues. More information on Instagram@CentrodeArtesdaMare

In October, Núcleo 2 hosted the Angolan artist director Zia Soares during her residency at CAM, as part of a cooperation between Lia Rodrigues Companhia de Danças and apap - FEMINIST FUTURES, a project co-financed by the European Union's Creative Europe Programme. At the end of a week of residency, the students presented the performance "ESPAVORIDOS".

The pandemic brought many doubts, among them, the reflection on the role of art in this new time.

In this sense, right at the beginning of the confinement, FDSM had the pleasure of participating in the “Convida” program, to promote cultural production carried out by Instituto Moreira Salles, with the proposal entitled “Corpo em Isolamento”, where the students were able to register their expressions in times of a pandemic.
The result can be seen in the video below:

Photos 01 and 02: Presentation by the students of the Maré Free School of Dance, at the Maré Arts Center, in December 2022.

NEW MASTER OF URBAN DANCES FROM ESCOLA FREE DE DANCE DA MARÉ

JP Black, 42, is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and founder of the Street Flow project. A reference in the Locking modality in Brazil and South America, he has already been champion in national and international battles (Street Dance Machine Festival in Chile, in 2012, four-time champion at the Rio H2K Festival between 2012 and 2015, etc.). In 2016, he was one of the dancers at the opening of the Rio Olympics and in 2022 he was part of the ballet on the Favela Stage at Rock in Rio. JP Black has also served as a judge and teacher for events such as the H2K Festival in 2016, the Hit That Beat Festival in Argentina in 2014 and the Pura Calle Festival in Peru in 2019.

Team

Coordination: Karoll Silva

Pedagogical Supervision: Professor Silvia Soter

Artistic Supervision: Choreographer Lia Rodrigues

Instructors: Sylvia Barreto (Ballet), JP Black (Urban Dances), Leila Santos (Ballroom Dance), Júnio Nascimento (Afro-Brazilian Dances), Ana Olívia Cardoso (Yoga), Luana Domingos (Creative Dance), Clarice Silva (Body Awareness), and Jeniffer Rodrigues (Contemporary Dance).

ELDM Assistant: Luana Domingos

Financial Manager: Sandra Ciqueira

Supporting Partners

Fondation d’Entreprise Hermès

Municipal Department of Culture of Rio de Janeiro – City Hall

SCHOOL CONTACT

Email: eixoarteecultura@redesdamare.org.br

Redes da Maré WhatsApp: +55 (21) 99924-6462

CAM Contact: +55 (21) 3105-7265

Instagram: @centrodeartesdamare

Website: Intensive Dance Training Program

Institutional Partners

Psychology Department – UERJ – Prof. Rosana Rapizo

Instituto Yoga na Maré

Instituto Moreira Salles – RJ

Manufacture – Dance School (Switzerland)

Lia Rodrigues Dance Company

Théâtre Jean-Vilar de Vitry-sur-Seine (France)

Panorama Festival

Photo: Students from the Maré Free Dance School performing at the Maré Arts Center, December 2022.

TESTIMONIALS FROM STUDENTS AND FORMER STUDENTS

“I like to think that the space in which we work or dance every day ends up somehow becoming a home. CAM became a place we went to learn, exchange, and take care of. This care also came from most of the teachers, to sit, listen and exchange with each body, always taking care to be willing to listen and help. It was amazing to be able to receive people from outside and far and to be able to absorb their knowledge, the teachings and new things are reverberating even now in our bodies and mind. We also learned each other's limits and how far we could get to a comfortable place within individual bodily possibilities. We were challenged in several classes to get out of my comfort zone, which I see today as a huge advance in my corporeality." Anne Loise, student of the Dance Training Center

"Yoga na Maré took us out of the favela, to the asphalt, where people are getting to know Maré, not only because of the violence, but because of something good for the people. There are a lot of good things here and yoga came to add ". Elza Jorge, 63 years old, Yoga, Body Awareness and Ballroom Dancing student

“It has been very satisfying to participate in this free training with so many people who inspire me to be and do so many things that I didn't even imagine. Everything I've experienced at N2 throughout this year has been bringing me to a place of finding my best version, my potentialities and welcoming my chokes and demons. A thousand things can happen out there, but when I arrive, I want to be there, enjoy it and be thankful for everyone who came before and made and make that living organism survive over time.” Tatiane Souza, student of the Dance Training Center

“I was and still am very shy, but with these classes I was taking, it helped me a lot. Just dancing in public, I never thought I would ever do that. The teachers who came through here are amazing. When I had face-to-face activities, I felt very good about going and being with happy people. We were very well received by the staff and teachers.” Neuza da Silva, 58, student of Body Awareness, Yoga and Ballroom Dancing

“I moved to Maré when I was 6 years old, with all my family. I met the FDSM in 2011, when I was walking along Bitencourt Sampaio Street with a friend at night. I will never forget this memory: seeing the high doors of the shed open, while in the background, a group danced with great energy to the sound of Tom Zé. It filled me with joy to see people being so free and creative with their bodies. The following week, I was there. I found that it was what I loved doing the most. The following year, in 2012, I joined the Intensive Dance Training Center, where I was part of for 3 years.” Rafael Galdino, 25 years old, former student, was selected for the dance school P.A.R.T.S., in Brussels, Belgium, where he studied for 3 years and today works in the Belgian contemporary dance company, Rosas

“My relationship with Maré started in 2007, when I moved from the state of Paraíba straight to Rio and the Arts Center was my second home. In 2016, the opportunity arose to study at P.A.R.T.S., there were only 46 vacancies for 1,000 dancers from all over the world at that time. The school helped me a lot, both with the issuance of documents, guidelines, translations, travel costs, accommodations etc. It was a very intense process, but there was a lot of positivity that everything would work out, and it did.” Gustavo Vieira, 26 years old, a student at FDSM for 8 years and was part of the first group of Nucleus 2, in 2012. Today, he is an actor and dancer at TG Stan, in Belgium

"I have been part of Nucleus 2 since 2021, where I participated remotely in the project. I was going through a moment of giving up on dancing and if it wasn't for this opportunity, I believe I would now be working on something I hated. Having the opportunity to take a dance training course and receive a scholarship for it was all I needed at that time. It brought me confidence, financial stability and a lot of excitement to work with dance. I grew up in a family that was very closed to the arts and to say that I wanted to be an artist since I was little was fraught with prejudice. But I always felt like I would be able to make it and I never gave up." Seven, student of the Dance Training Center

TESTIMONIALS FROM TEACHERS AND FORMER TEACHERS

“I had already given up dancing before moving on to Nucleus 2, it was a surprise when I had moved on to it. There were so many learnings, with incredible professionals with attentive eyes, and in different modalities! Not to mention the opening of doors and what this welcoming environment can provide us. At the beginning, while talking to the coordinator Karoll Silva, I had told her that, when my time at Nucleus 2 was over, I would like to join Redes da Maré, because it is an institution in which I strongly believe as a motivating possibility of social and cultural changes in a reality imposed on marginalized bodies. To my surprise, and after some classes as a substitute teacher, I was called to be a permanent teacher at the Free School of Dance of Maré, as a teacher of Afro-Brazilian Dances!" Júnio Nascimento, student of the Dance Training Center and teacher of Afro-Brazilian Dances at ELDM

“All these 10 years of school, for me, mean that anything is possible when you really work and love what you do. Ballet brought discipline, organization, musicality, and it can be done by anyone from anywhere. It's hard work, but very possible." Sylvia Barreto, 62, Classical Ballet teacher since the beginning of FDSM

“One of the most striking impacts for me is the meeting of different generations on the same ground. The school floor. We learn a lot when we put our bodies in dialogue. In my classes, for example, a majority of women are received - between 40 and 80 years old - who are constantly exchanging, with me and with each other, experiences and knowledge, and this learning I could only have at FDSM.” Bruno Damião, 32 years old, Body Awareness teacher since 2016

“I've had some former students of the school who are currently studying at P.A.R.T.S, one of the most important contemporary dance schools in the world, they had to audition and passed. That's a great pride. Another huge pride is being able, with my intermediate class, to produce works and dance in various places, as they have done several times. So good to be able to teach, learn from them, produce and spread what we produce around the world.” Renato Cruz, 39 years old, Urban Dance teacher since 2011

"I got to know the school through my daughter who was in theater at Redes, I went to see a show and, after a while, they invited me to teach a ballroom dance class. Dance has the power to strengthen ties between people! In fact, I am proud to be part of this family, I say family because all employees without exception are partners, friends and are always willing to help the community." Leila Santos, 40 years old, Ballroom Dance teacher for 5 years

"The last few years have been a lot of learning about Maré and the Arts Center regulars, which continually questions me about the possible and coherent methodologies of a dance that is based on this intersection of my experiences as a teacher and artist and dances that already inhabit this territory. What I am most proud of is to say that I can contribute in some way to the strengthening of a notion of identity that, sometimes, did not have the opportunity to develop in their lives. For this, my constant methodology is to ask myself how to let the proposed experiences be carried out by them." Clarice Silva, 41 years old, teacher of Contemporary Dance since 2018

HIGHLIGHTS

2025

In June 2025, the coordinator of the Maré Free Dance School, Karol Silva, and four youth from the Training Center went to France for an exchange program at the Centre National de Danse Contemporaine (CNDC) in Angers. In addition, the youth participated in Camping — a major gathering of dance schools that brings together artists from around the world — with classes and workshops held in Lyon. The initiative, the result of a partnership between Redes da Maré and the Lia Rodrigues Companhia de Dança Company, is part of the France-Brazil Season / Dance Series.

2024

#Núcleo 1: External activities with Núcleo 1 students, including another edition of Open Doors Week, with performances for the students’ families.

#Núcleo 2: Strengthening of Núcleo 2 students in the Ongoing Dance Training program, focusing on training new local leaders from the Maré favelas and other Rio de Janeiro favelas. Start of the process to collect qualitative data with students from Núcleo 2 and the Training Center.

2023

#Núcleo 1: Continuation of free classes in dance, yoga, and body awareness. A total of 313 people registered for the workshops.

#Núcleo 2: Under the direction of choreographer Lia Rodrigues, the dancers participated in the creation of the piece Exercício E, de Encontrar e Esperançar. The group performed at the Maré Arts Center, the Arena Jovelina Pérola Negra in Pavuna, and the Sérgio Porto Cultural Space in Humaitá.

2022

A year of resuming dance classes, workshops, and in-person artistic presentations after the pandemic. Highlights include performances of the pieces Fúria and Encantado, by the Lia Rodrigues Companhia de Danças, at the Maré Arts Center. The shows brought together an audience of 2,187 spectators, both from Maré and other areas of the city.

2021

#Nucleus 1: Continuity of activities in a virtual format, with the offer of synchronous and asynchronous workshops | Celebration in October of the 10 years of the FDSM.

#Nucleus 2: The presence of dance artists to conduct a choreographic-pedagogical project that resulted in the construction of a collective virtual performance. The guest artists were Felipe Vian, Renato Cruz, Rubens Oliveira, Dani Lima and Volmir Cordeiro. | New audition in March/April 2021 with online format, for participation in Pedagogical Choreographic Project.

2020

#Nucleus 1: We started activities with face-to-face workshops that, due to the pandemic, were adapted for virtual activities. | Participation of the School in the “Convida” program, by Instituto Moreira Salles, with the project “Corpo em Isolamento”, creating collective audiovisual material and generating income for students. | Campaign for fundraising and recovery of the CAM roof with the active participation of FDSM students.

#Nucleus 2: Artistic residency by choreographer Cristina Moura. | Adhesion of students from Nucleus 2 in the "Maré Says NO to the Coronavirus" campaign, with the headquarters at the Arts Center.

2019

#Nucleus 1: Participation of 3 students from the Children's Ballet class in the audition for the Maria Olenewa State Dance School. | Marllon Araújo and Luyd Carvalho, students who graduated from Nucleus 2, gave two open workshops in June. | The Urban Dances group participated in the inauguration of the new headquarters of Redes da Maré in Vila do Pinheiro, with a presentation of "Flash Mob". Presentation of works and research developed by ELDM teachers. | Holding of the Open Doors Week, with dance and theater workshops open to the public.

#Nucleus 2: Approval of two young students at the PARTS School, in Belgium. | Abdias Nascimento exhibition at Mare Arts Center with the group's performance | New audition in the second semester.

2018

#Nucleus 1: Participation of the Urban Dances class, by Prof. Renato Cruz, in four external cultural events for presentations of “Flash Mobs”. | External cultural activity in partnership with the Panorama Festival. | Open Doors Week, an annual event in which different groups present works. l Throughout 2018, we carried out 20 external cultural activities for different groups.

#Nucleus 2: International tour with the show “May B”, by Maguy Marin. | Approval of the Prince Claus Foundation Public Notice.

2017

#Nucleus 1: Realization of “Flash Mob” with the advanced group of Urban Dances at the Tom Jobim International Airport, at the invitation of the supporter.

#Nucleus 2: Exchange of students from the Manufacture Dance School, in Switzerland, in daily classes with the Formation Nucleus | Participation of 5 members in the Camping project, from the Centre National de la Danse, in France.

2016

#Nucleus 1: Realization of the “Occupation” project, with artistic residencies of theatre, photography and dance in tune with the School's actions. | Edition of Festival Panorama with 3 workshops at the Arts Center: João Fiadeiro, Federica Folco and Cristian Duarte. | Workshop “Women in the Wind”, for people over 40 years old. | Open Doors Week. | Angel Vianna presents the work “Tomorrow is another day” at Maré Arts Center | Visit of the Solidarium team, the French platform of the Fondation Cognacq-Jay, with the production of a video and an article about FDSM's actions.

#Nucleus 2: Participation of five members in the exchange meeting Camping - Center National de la Danse, in France. | Four members of Nucleus 2 selected for audition at the PARTS school, in Belgium. | Exchange program with Manufacture School, in Lausanne, Switzerland.

2015

#Nucleus 1: Realization of the project “Dança Maré!” - dance shows and workshops with Josh Antonio and JP Black open to the School's public. | 25 events held at the Maré Arts Center, including: 12 theater/dance shows, 4 exhibitions and 1 complete biography about Augusto Boal. | Open Doors Week in September. | Workshop “Women in the Wind”. | End-of-year presentations with the participation of family and friends.

#Nucleus 2: Exchange at Maré with students from the Municipal Artistic School of Théâtre Jean-Vilar de Vitry-sur-Seine, France. | Street performance at the launch of Jovem Negro Vivo Campaign, in Maré.

2014

#Nucleus 1: Holding of “Mostra Maré de Artes Cênicas” at Maré Arts Center with the offer of theater and dance shows and open workshops. | In November, 4 attractions from the Panorama Festival took place at the Arts Center: Paloma Calle, David Mambouch, Anne Theresa de Keersmaeker and Christian Duarte with the participation of male and female students. | Holding of the “Open Doors Week”, in December, with the presentation of the work to family members and the general public as an important pedagogical element in the dance learning process. | Holding of 11 external cultural outings in shows and exhibitions in the city.

#Nucleus 2: Second audition for the Formation Nucleus with the entry of new students. | Rehearsal and new season of “Exercício M, de Movimento e de Maré”. | Admission of 6 students from Nucleus 2 to the UFRJ Dance College.

2013

#Nucleus 1: Holding of the “Maré de Artes Cênicas” at the Arts Center with the presentation of theater and dance shows, accompanied by workshops open to students. | About 80% of FDSM students are young residents of Nova Holanda or the closest communities, such as Parque União.

#Nucleus 2: Collective creation and rehearsal of “Exercício M, de Movimento e de Maré” - with 18 presentations in cultural spaces. | Exchange with the Municipal Artistic School of Théâtre Jean-Vilar de Vitry-sur-Seine (France).

2012

#Nucleus 1: In May 2012, the FDSM already received around 200 students a ged between 4 and 67, residents of Maré and surrounding areas. | Holding of sessions at the Maré Cine Club - Dance Film Festival. | Holding of the Maré Performing Arts Show, with monthly presentations of theater and dance shows at the Arts Center, in addition to workshops in tune with the School's activities.

#Nucleus 2: Second audition for the Formation Nucleus with the entry of new students. | Rehearsal and new season of “Exercício M, de Movimento e de Maré”. | Admission of six students from Nucleus 2 to the UFRJ Dance College.

2011

#Nucleus 1: start of FDSM activities in October, with the offer of workshops open to the public: Introduction to Ballet, Creative Dance, Percussion, Body Awareness, Ballroom Dancing, Urban Dances and Contemporary Dance. | Promotion of external cultural activity with a trip to the Panorama Festival in November 2011.