The ImPulsTanz – Vienna International Dance Festival proudly announced that Ismael Ivo has been appointed as new artistic director of the renowned Balé da Cidade de São Paulo. The news were presented by São Paulo’s Secretary of State for Culture André Sturm at a recent press conference. Ismael Ivo, who founded the ImPulsTanz festival together with Karl Regensburger in 1984 and since then functions as its artistic advisor, will take up his new position within the next days. Thereby, he follows Iracity Cardoso, who led the company between 2013 and 2016.

For Ismael Ivo, recent IRC-Fellow, successful dancer and choreographer himself who also was the director of La Biennale di Venezia Danza from 2005 to 2012, the highest priority is to open the company to an innovative artistic language and new techniques as well as to new choreographic material. Also, it is his vision to realize ground-breaking projects in the urban periphery and the public space together with the company’s dancers.

Being one of the most distinguished dance companies in South America, the Balé da Cidade of São Paulo was founded in 1968 and is especially known for its variety in technique and interpretation. With Iracity Cardoso as director, the 34-headed group has been a regular guest in Europe, for example at the Hessian State Theatre of Wiesbaden or at Tanzsommer Innsbruck. Ismael Ivo announced to make use of his elaborated networks to bring the company on the big international stages even more regularly. Home of the Balé da Cidade is the Theatro Municipal in São Paulo, where it operates as an independent company. This freedom shaped the group, which initially mainly focused on the interpretation of classics. Its current repertory’s artistic profile includes different styles – from neoclassical forms to dance theatre. This development was met with positive response by the audience as well as by critics and earned numerous awards.

We wish Ismael Ivo success with his new challenge and would like to sincerely congratulate him.