Mário Valejo, Dancer and Choreographer from Parque Mayer, Passes Away

Mário Valejo, the Portuguese dancer and choreographer known for his work with popular marches and performances at Parque Mayer in Lisbon, has died.

The news was confirmed by his sister, Maria Valejo, in a tribute published on June 17, 2023, where she reflected on their shared life and careers in the performing arts.

According to Maria Valejo, Mário Valejo dedicated much of his life to dance and choreography, particularly creating and staging many popular marches, a traditional form of Portuguese folk performance often associated with festive parades and community celebrations.

She described how, while he pursued dance as his life’s work, she found her calling in fado music, performing on stage whenever she felt comfortable doing so.

The siblings shared a close bond, both personally and professionally, having grown up in a family with Alentejan and Spanish roots. Maria noted that she was born under the zodiac sign Aries and believed in living authentically, a value she said guided her throughout life.

Maria Valejo also spoke of her personal life, including a five-year relationship that resulted in the birth of her daughter, who is now 50 years old. She described her daughter as wonderful and the best gift she could have received, though she acknowledged challenges in the relationship with her daughter’s father due to conflicting senses of independence and possession.

In addition to raising her daughter, Maria took in another young girl at six months old after the child’s mother lost her sight. She cared for the girl as her own until she married, maintaining contact between the girl and her biological parents throughout.

Maria emphasized that she always encouraged the girl to call her by her name, Maria Joana, though she responded more naturally to “Maria.” The girl, however, began calling her “Dai,” a name Maria adopted affectionately.

After losing their parents, Maria and Mário Valejo decided to live together in the family home. They have cohabited for nearly 50 years, a arrangement Maria said supported her independence rather than limited it.

She contrasted this with romantic relationships, noting that living with a partner had, in her experience, posed limitations on her autonomy, whereas her life with her brother allowed her to remain true to herself.

The tribute highlighted their enduring sibling bond, rooted in shared artistic paths and mutual respect, with both having pursued careers in entertainment — Mário in dance and choreography, Maria in fado performance.

Mário Valejo’s contributions to Portuguese popular culture, especially through his choreography for traditional marches and his association with historic venues like Parque Mayer, place him among the notable figures who helped shape Lisbon’s theatrical and folk performance landscape.

His passing marks the end of a life devoted to the performing arts, remembered by his sister not only for his professional achievements but for the deep personal connection they maintained over decades of shared life and creative endeavor.