Clarice Assad made history as the first woman commissioned to create an original score for Grupo Corpo. Her composition for “Piracema” premiered in 2025 as part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

“Piracema” draws inspiration from fish swimming against currents to spawn, symbolizing Grupo Corpo’s five decades of artistic resilience. The ballet features dual choreography by Rodrigo Pederneiras and Cassi Abranches, with each working independently with half the company before merging their works.

Assad’s year-long composition features three movements: tribal (natural environment), classical (symphonic polyphony), and urban (electronic). The score combines her own voice, the New Century Chamber Orchestra from San Francisco, and AI-generated effects. She collaborated with percussionist Keita Ogawa and her father, guitarist Sérgio Assad. The music reflects themes of transformation, resilience, and hope, mixing old and new to evoke both humanity’s challenges and an optimistic future.

The set design features 82,000 sardine can lids, creating a fish-scale effect. Lighting by Paulo and Gabriel Pederneiras and costumes by Susana Bastos and Marcelo Alvarenga use earthy tones with silver details, blending masculine and feminine forms.

“This work brings greater visibility to women composers in the Brazilian music scene,” Assad notes about this historic collaboration.

“Piracema” debuted in São Paulo before traveling to the Theatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro and Palácio das Artes in Belo Horizonte in late 2025, performed alongside “Parabelo” as part of Grupo Corpo’s anniversary program.

Grupo Corpo estreia ‘Piracema’ com trilha inédita de Clarice Assad (Fringe): https://fringe.com.br/2025/07/21/grupo-corpo-estreia-piracema/

• Clarice Assad compõe para o Grupo Corpo (Revista Concerto): https://concerto.com.br/noticias/entrevista/panorama-classico-17-clarice-assad-compoe-para-o-grupo-corpo

• Grupo Corpo official Instagram Reel with choreography and music credits: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMOf8EEyqpv/?hl=en