Paulo Manso de Sousa met Courtenay Budd last March at the annual Friends of Wadsworth concert. Manso de Sousa is founding artistic director of Southern Arc Dance, whose slogan is “building a new generation of dance.” Courtenay Budd grew up in Newnan, resides now in New York, and is an internationally known soprano.
The two immediately connected, and their creative juices have been marinating to create an exceptional event called Saudade that will be performed Friday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at the Newnan Centre.
Budd will be joined by guitarist David Leisner and flutist Angela Jones-Reus in a program of Portuguese, Brazilian, and Spanish song and folk music, entitled Saudade, which has been thoughtfully choreographed by Manso de Sousa. Among the world’s languages, one of the hardest terms to translate is “saudade” (pronounced “sau dahdge”), the Portuguese word for a feeling, a longing for something or some event that one is fond of, which is gone, but might return in a distant future.
In the closing ceremonies of the summer Olympics, the term was written on the field which was relating to a community of indigenous northern Brazilians who have created their own lace and designs which are passed on from generation to generation. The artistic expression of Saudade is unique and transcendent.
Local artist David Boyd, Jr. created a special piece of art that captures the essence of Saudade and is being used in promoting this “first of its kind” event.
Tickets are $25 and there will be a cash bar available before and after the performance.
Tickets are available at www.newnan.brownpapertickets.com
and at several area locations. For additional information, visit www.cityofnewnan org.
