Fire Dance in Porto at Night: Natalia

An evening that started like any other

One evening in Porto, Alex (nickname Aqua Freska) and I were walking around – me with my backpack and him with his crates of water. The sunset at Jardim do Morro had been watched; it was my daily ritual. From there I usually headed back home.

This time there was a Starbucks on the way. Alex went in to get a coffee, while I stayed waiting outside by the door. At one point I noticed someone starting to set things up in the corner of the square. It looked like a fire show was about to start. When Alex came back, I told him that we should go and watch and drink our coffee outside, because something was about to happen here.

Alex smiled and said:
“She’s my friend, Natalia.”

First evening: just a spectator, not a photographer

Alex introduced us. At the same time Natalia was setting up her music and props. We sat down on the curb and watched.

What I saw that first evening wasn’t just a fire show. It was pure passion and joy in what she does. The photographer in my head started to see frames: the spin here, the smile there, a ring of fire around her, sparks rising into the dark sky. Throughout the whole performance I saw many moments I would have loved to capture. But the camera had a 24–70mm f/4 lens on it, which in that kind of low light simply wouldn’t have done the job. Still, by that time I already had a plan in my head.

After the performance I asked Natalia: “If I come back tomorrow and photograph you, would that be okay?” She nodded – that works.

Second evening: fire, dance and 50mm

The next evening I showed up with a better lens. 50mm f/1.8 – exactly what was needed. Dim light, live fire and fast movement are a combination that doesn’t forgive slowness.

When the show started, I quickly understood that this wasn’t going to be a simple “I’ll grab a couple of frames and I’m done” shoot. The fire lit up Natalia’s face and body, sometimes far too brightly and then almost not at all. She moved quickly, spun around, sometimes threw the fire up into the air, and the light changed within seconds. I went along with all of it.

After the performance: harder than taking the photos

Looking through the photos the next day was, honestly, more difficult than the evening on the square. Sorting the images was like watching a short film again, because there was something in every frame that I was reluctant to let go of.

That’s the good kind of problem that comes up when the model is genuine and fully present. I had to keep telling myself that the gallery couldn’t consist of 300 photos, no matter how much I wanted it to. In the end I kept the frames where the fire, the movement and Natalia’s own energy formed one whole.

Some time later Natalia made a Facebook post where she thanked the photographers who had crossed her path – those “thousands of clicks” that help her see herself and truly share her art with others. There was also a thank you to me for the photos. Moments like that make me pause and think about why I even carry a camera around. And it’s exactly because of moments like these!

Friendship on a Porto street

Natalia didn’t remain just a model for one evening. We kept in touch throughout my whole time in Porto. Sometimes, when her shows were over, we would sit on the street for hours, talking about life, art and travelling. It became part of my Porto – not just the facades and bridges, but also the people who keep the city alive.

If you go to Porto

If you end up in Porto, then:

• definitely go and see Natalia’s fire show. She often performs near the Dom Luís I Bridge, where the evening light and the buzz by the river create the backdrop for the show.
• say hello to her from Estonia. You can tell her that you found your way to her “through the photos of an Estonian”.
• appreciate her authenticity. Put something in her box, a few coins or a banknote. This art is born not only from passion, but also from all the time she invests in it.

If you’re in Porto and looking for a real performer for your event, someone who doesn’t do it just “because it’s a job”, then Natalia is the right person. In her hands, fire is something more than just an effect – it’s the language she speaks.

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With Natalia, this is a story about fire, friendship and one evening in Porto when I was behind the camera, thinking about how many people there are in the world who do what they truly love, and what a privilege it is to be present, even briefly, in their story.

Full gallery https://antisoosaar.ee/photography/elamused/fire-dancer-natalia/

You can find Natalia performing at the location below: