Alice Ripoll and Hiltinho Fantástico PUFF
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A transcendent solo performance honouring generations of
knowledge
PUFF explores the use of disguise as a device to transmit techniques, messages and traditions from otherwise silenced cultures. The word ‘puff’ can also mean ‘a light breath’, carrying the idea of something that disappears as if by magic.
Moving through samba, capoeira and passinho, the show explores the ancestry of Brazilian dance, starting in Africa. The work evokes a sense of illusion through speedy steps and fast movement, suggesting that something is deliberately being hidden from view.
This solo performance marks a continuation of the long-standing collaboration between Brazillian choreographers and dancers Alice Ripoll and Hiltinho Fantástico, who have been working together for the past seven years within the SUAVE and REC dance companies.
Both collectives have developed a hybrid performance style that merges contemporary dance with Brazilian urban forms. The two artists have collaborated in acclaimed works such as Cria, Lavagem, aCORdo, and Zona Franca, which have toured major festivals and theatres around the world.
Additional travel support for the presentation of PUFF at Sadler’s Wells was generously provided by the British Council, the Guimarães Rosa Institute, and CÂMBIO, in celebration of the Brazil/UK Season of Culture 2025-2026.
Header image © Camilla Blake
a revelation in motion, an exceptional solo dance performance that grips the audience from the very first moment ★★★★★ BINGEFRINGE
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What is Passinho
Passinho is an urban dance style born from the streets of Rio de Janeiro. This brazillian style is more than just a dance, it’s a cultural movement. Passed down through the community and grounded in the cultural customs, it’s a form of artistic expression that has become a symbol of resistance and unity. An energetic fusion of samba, breaking, frevo, capoeira, afro and funk, Passinho evolved to integrate influences as dynamic as vogue. Its name translates to ‘little step’ and is defined by staccato waist twists, intricate footwork and ballet-like moves high on, or over, the toes.
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