Background of ALVIRA

ALVIRA is the alter ego of performer Portia van de Braam. The concept began when Portia played the character Ariel from Shakespeare's The Tempest whilst training at Drama Centre London. Over the past 6 years since graduating from drama school the idea has developed into a gig theatre act. Her sound hangs somewhere between folk, cinematic, sacred choral and pop music. Through spoken word, dance and music ALVIRA incorporates all the passions and skills of Portia inspired by and drawing from the literary work of her late father Dorian van Braam. Her father never managed to achieve commercial success in his lifetime and since his passing, the act now serves as an homage and extension to his legacy.

Portia grew up in southern Ireland immersed in the theatre. Her mother was an Irving Davies dancer back in the good old days of variety television, and her father a writer (and an eccentric). Her mother taught her to dance and the family spent countless times in the theatres of Waterford city for her pantomimes and ballets.

From the age of 11 Portia trained at The Royal Ballet School, Tring Park and later Drama Centre London. She worked as a dancer in both the commercial and fashion worlds for brands and artists including Reebok, Burberry, Marks & Spencer’s, Victoria Beckham Denim, Bonobo and Martin Solveig, before training as an actress. She performed with and composed music for theatre company The Shakespeare Edit and is now devoted to creating her own work under the alter ego ALVIRA.

ALVIRA’s influences

Max Richter, John Tavener, Hanz Zimmer, Arvo Part, Hildegard Von Bingen, Joan Baez, Nick Cave, Camille O’Sullivan, FKA Twigs, Christine and the Queens, Kate Bush…