Description

Red Maria, a solo performed by Bel Sôuza, is an intimate and visceral journey that transforms experiences of violence and oppression into acts of awareness, resilience, and resistance. The work calls upon the figure of Pombogira—an Afro-Brazilian spiritual entity who embodies desire, freedom, and the defiance of social conventions—interwoven with stories from Inventário Vermelho, a book organized by Brazilian writer Danielle Andrade.

In these traditions, Pombogira is inseparable from the essence of the feminine: she moves in the space where pain meets pleasure, where strength coexists with vulnerability, where freedom confronts taboo. Through her presence, the mysteries of womanhood are revealed.

Inventário Vermelho brought together the voices of 21 women from across Brazil, each writing letters that recounted experiences of protagonism and survival. For every story of suffering, another responded with a gesture of healing—creating a living fabric of wounds, resilience, and renewal.

Guided by the color of blood—a symbol of both life and loss—Red Maria unfolds as a ritual of presence. Through words, chants, and movements, Bel Sôuza weaves a bridge between the visible and the invisible, piecing together fragments to reconstruct memory, dignity, and collective strength.