The blues of Portugal. Not a sentence you expect to hear every day, but that is how fado is viewed in its home country.

Fado is little-known style of music characterised by mournfulness. It is the antithesis to its Brazilian cousin Flamenco. The traditional form of fado has one singer, one Portuguese-guitar guitarist and one classical Spanish-guitar guitarist.

“In Portugal we associate fado with the past and the hardships of life and love, and this is what my show A Darker Shade of Fado is about,“ says Nuno Silva, about his latest production, which sees him return to his Portuguese roots and attempt to modernise the form and hopefully also popularise it.

A Darker Shade of Fado uses an international team of dancers to “blend sensual dance and soul-baring song”.

Traditionally fado is not linked to dance, but Nuno, whose career has spanned contemporary dance, classical opera and West End musicals such as Cabaret, has taken the form in a new direction.

“It’s a tale of love using the magic of music, dance and contemporary choreography,“ he explains.

“Some years ago when I was on tour, there was one particular night after a show that I just couldn’t get to sleep. I turned on the TV and there was the fado artist Mariza singing on the Jools Holland show. I remember thinking to myself ‘she’s great! She almost looks like she’s dancing... if I were in her shoes I would use more movement and link the singing to dancing...’ and that’s how the idea started.“

Fado is linked to the old quarters of Lisbon and is still sung in bars there and has recently been recognised by UNESCO as part of the World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Adding to the excitement of this performance is his return to his old college, the London Studio Centre, which is now based at artsdepot where he will be bringing the show next week.

“I’ve got very fond memories of performing there some years ago when I was with Henri Oguike Dance Company – I immediately loved the venue’s newness and sense of space. And, of course, these days its home to my old college.“

  • A Darker Shade of Fado is at artsdepot, Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, on Thursday, May 1 at 7.30pm. Details: 020 8369 5454, artsdepot.co.uk