Three decades ago, scientists discovered an unknown pale pink octopus and searched for the perfect name for this charming little deep-sea creature. They called it Opisthoteuthis Adorabilis—"The Adorable."

When choreographers Jonas Lopes and Lander Patrick began working on their performance, they sought a choreographic embodiment of their own Adorabilis, much like ancient storytellers who used allegories to describe real or imaginary animals with symbolic meaning for humans. After years of intense work, the performance has evolved into a dance labyrinth—an intricate fusion of diverse ideas, cultures, and biological perspectives.

Jonas and Lander weave together contrasting inspirations:
From the meditative whirling dances of the dervishes to the expressive “jazz hands” of Bob Fosse’s musicals.
From the natural world and the animal kingdom to social norms, virtues, and humor.

The Portuguese choreographers also explore themes central to their artistic journey, such as the relationship between symmetry and asymmetry, the physical possibilities and expressive range of the body, fragmented storytelling, and the use of the human voice as an integral element of dance.

Through their bodies, expressions, and intense movements, the three performers create a ceremonial space. On stage, rituals and narratives intertwine, while lighting, sound, and imagery influence the dancers as naturally as rain, night, or changing seasons affect animals.

Inside the imagined machine of ADORABILIS, the three men face an invisible tension, an extraordinary situation. And throughout it all, a powerful virtual eye seems to watch them. This mysterious fourth performer—both present and intangible—can intervene at any moment, shifting the dynamic of the performance, whether its movements are meticulously precise or purely instinctual.

Jonas Lopes was born on June 6, 1986, in Lisbon, while Lander Patrick was born on January 19, 1989, in Rio de Janeiro. The two met in 2010 while studying at Escola Superior de Dança in Lisbon, marking the beginning of their collaborative journey in dance.

Their works stand out in the Portuguese dance scene for their distinctive artistic signature, their unique ability to merge elements from various performing arts, and their meticulous attention to music. This is particularly evident in Cascas d'OvO (2013), their first stage production, where rhythm takes on a commanding role, essentially acting as the “conductor” of the performance.

Today, Jonas and Lander are established artists whose works are critically acclaimed and supported by cultural institutions in Portugal and across Europe. Their extensive repertoire includes original productions such as: Matilda Carlota (2014), Arrastão (2015), Adorabilis (2017), Lento e Largo (2019), Coin Operated (2019), and Bate Fado (2021).

They have also engaged in community projects, such as Playback (2013), created for the Materiais Diversos Arts Festival, and Caruma (2014), developed at the invitation of the Estufa Cultural Platform.

Two of their performances have been selected by Aerowaves Priority Company and won 2nd prize at the No Ballet International Choreography Competition (Germany). Their piece Lento e Largo was named one of the ten best productions of 2019 by Portuguese newspapers Público and Expresso and received a nomination for Best Choreography from the Portuguese Society of Authors (Sociedade Portuguesa de Autores).

With Bate Fado, Jonas and Lander embarked on an intensive tour across Portugal and internationally in 2021-2022. The performance was also awarded Expresso's Show of the Year in 2021. Their international presence spans Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa, solidifying their reputation as leading voices in contemporary dance.