Deborah Colker
Artistic Director
Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker, Rio de Janiero, Brazil
Special Performances
It was no mere chance that restlessness and a love of cultural diversity became features of Deborah Colker’s work. Raised in the solitary study of classic piano and the collective excitement of volleyball, the Rio-born choreographer was initiated into contemporary dance in the 1980s by the great Uruguayan dancer Graciela Figueiroa and her group Coringa. In 1994 Colker founded the company named for her. Recognised internationally, she has received many awards including an Olivier Award for the ballet Mix in 2001 and Prix Benois de la Danse for the choreography of Cão sem plumas (Dog without feathers) in 2018. In 2009, she created Ovo, a new show for the Cirque de Soleil. In 2016, Colker was the movement director for the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympic Games, coordinating more than 3,000 people in a city wide dance extravaganza.