Sambódromo do Mar Profundo

Summary of the project

Plastic has been an constant presence in the Azores marine life: from the coast areas to the deep sea. The OMA project SANBÓDROMO DO MAR PROFUNDO aims to sensitize the population of Faial island to the plastic pollution problem and to the consequence of its alienation. It is necessary that the population gets near to the marine crib because it is important to know it, to be able to protect it.
Many of the marine species of the Azorean sea are unknown to the eyes of the public. Only if the sea and its inhabitants become closer and familiar to each other, it is possible to create a relationship of respect between Humans and Nature.
To create a meeting space were the Faial inhabitants can contact with the marine reality of the island, OMA propose to create a night street performance during the festivities of the Sea Week.
The narrative will have as main characters the deep-sea animals that inhabit the Azorean sea. The choice of these species lies on the fact that they are not well known and therefore, not cherished by the local population. In artistic terms, the animals by their luminous characteristics, offer a big visual impact to the show and therefore, it becomes more artistic and visually captivating.
In terms of its structure, the narrative is composed by: 1. The presentation of the deep-sea species; 2. The presentation of the plastic as a harmful element to the sea and to its marine species; 3. Identification of bad environmental practices as a source of marine pollution; 4. Explanation that this synthetic material life cycle begins and finishes with the human being, namely with fish consumption that are contaminated by the ingestion of plastic particles.

Beneficiaries

• 30 dancers, 3 choreographers / dance teachers
• 8000 in audience at Sea Week
• 8000 people in social networks; approx. 7000 people in OMA activities and workshops
• 100 Farmers
• 200 pupils, trainers, seamen of school ships

Overall achievements

The project aimed to sensitize the population of Faial Island to the plastic pollution problem and to the consequence of its alienation. Plastic has been a constant presence in the Azores marine life: from the coast areas to the deep sea. The action created a night street performance during the festivities of the Sea Week, which had as main characters the deep-sea animals that inhabit the Azorean sea. During the implementation workshops to raise awareness about these species and to create the costumes to the show were carried out. Complementary activities such as coastal cleaning actions were also performed. The project reached directly 321 people such as dancers, choreographers, students, teachers and more than 3.500 people watched the show.