The Interview: Paulo Manso de Sousa

From Staff Reports

This month, The Paper visited with Paulo Manson de Sousa, the Artistic Director at Southern Arc Dance in Newnan, for its March Q&A.

Briefly describe yourself and what you do/did.
I am an artist who uses the medium of movement and choreography as my language of creativity. I had a very rewarding career as a Classical Ballet Dancer traveling and performing all over the world, my two favorite places were Japan and Israel. I loved visiting Massada and  I felt I had been there in a past life. The most exciting place I lived was NYC in the 90s, so much art, so much education, so much excitement. I was part of the last guests at Studio 54.

Best piece of advice you’ve received.
The best advice I was given is to just be myself on stage, and compete with yourself.

If I had it to do over …
I would trust myself a lot more, and I would still take the same roads, maybe just a tighter seat belt.

You are going on an extended solo trip. What three albums and three books would you take?
Books: Sigmund Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams, Be Here Be Now by Dr Richard Alpert. These two books would keep me busy, LOL.
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor,  Antonio Vivaldi’s 4 Seasons by Max Richter, Cafe Del Mar Ibiza radio.

Tell us one thing about yourself that few people know.
I think I am very lazy, a procrastinator and not very original.

You are hosting a dinner party for six. What five people, living or dead, would you invite and why.
My guests would be Leonardo da Vinci, Maya Angelou, Carl Jung, Paul Wallis, and Malcolm Gladwell. We could talk about the possibility of evolution, human and spiritual psychology,  art and how they all relate to each other. You can’t have one without the others.

Name an as yet unfulfilled dream.
Time and money to do more traveling. The world is so vast and so much to see and experience.

If you weren’t doing what you are, you would be …
I  can’t imagine doing anything else, it’s what I have always done. Dance is my life.  I need to be creative so maybe I would be painting or sculpting.

Your go-to food.
A good fresh sourdough bread toasted with a good rich Irish butter.

Favorite movies(s)?
History, Epic, Fantasy.

Dogs or cats?
Dogs.

Your favorite quote and why.
Be Beautiful, cute is belittling, pretty is fake. Beautiful is honest and real.

Name something that you are extremely glad you did or accomplished.
I am extremely proud of Southern Arc Dance. It’s what I have dreamed – a dance education identity should be inclusive, collaborative, and integrity in pedagogy.

What advice would you give your younger self just starting out on their own?
Trust it, have fun, and don’t be afraid. It all goes by too fast so enjoy every ride, every curve, and every bump.