dance

Gustavo Oliveira

brazil

He was born in 1982 in Brazil. He began his education in 1985 at the Darue Malungo in Recife (BRA), studying capoeira, music, African-Brazilian dance and traditional Brazilian dance. From 1996 until 2000 Gustavo joined the Grupo Experimental de Danza do Recife under the direction of Monica Lima, focusing on classical ballet and contemporary dance.

His professional career began in 2001, when he joined the CPBC (Companhia Portuguesa De Bailado Contemporâneo) as a dancer and later on as a teacher and choreographer himself, under the direction of Vasco Wellenkamp. He danced in numerous of Wellenkamp’s and guest choreographer’s productions such as: Gagik Ismailian, Patrick Delcroix, Clara Andermatt, Pedro Goucha Gomes, Henry Oguike, Rui Lopes Graça, Benvido Fonseca, Barbara Griggi, Patricia Henriques, Niels Chriestie, Rita Judas, Susana Lima, Denise Namura, Claudia Novoa, Rita Reis. After the closing of the CPBC in 2016 Gustavo became a freelancer. He now choreographs, gives masterclasses, judges for competition and a guest dances worldwide. 

Gustavo has taught in various institutions and collaborated with companies in the following countries: Italy, Portugal, France, Holland, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Angola, Brazil, Austria, Sweden, Greece; Company Chameleon (UK), Compagnia Opus Ballet (ITA), Landestheater Innsbruck (AUT), Companhia do Matosinhos (PTA) etc. Especially his choreographic work for the Compagnia Opus Ballet has proven to be an international success, including the premier of “Serata Europea” in the Teatro Bellini (ITA), Dec.’17, presenting a full evening program of only Gustavo’s work. 

He has hosted and been a part of many residencies over the past few years. Some of these collaborations include The Vortex Festival (FRA), Spazio Seme (ITA), Vier und Einzig (AUT), Kulturhaus Reith (AUT), Julia Ehrstrand Residency (SWE) – which allowed him to create many more successful pieces, of which all premiered at the end of these residencies. Gustavo, placed 19th by Dance Europe on the list of the “Top One Hundred Dancers Season 2010/2011”, was also awarded the prize of „best interpreter of Contemporary Dance of the year 2017“ by the National Dance Academy in Rome.

In 2019 he became a Member of the International Dance Council CID of the UNESCO. In 2019 Gustavo has dedicated himself to creating his own project-based group, Gustavo Oliveira Dance Project (G.O.D.P). They premiered with “La Soirée” after a week of residency at the Vier und Einzig (AUT), to be followed by the first and second edition of the G.O.INTENSIVE, an intensive workshop for professional education and performance for Contemporary Dance. The shows at the Vier und Einzig in Innsbruck and the Kulturhaus Reith bei Kitzbühel (AUT) included new creations such as “Trip”, “Hommage” and a remastered version of “La Soirée” danced by the G.O.D.P. He also created a new piece for the Budapest Dance Theatre (HUN) directed by Béla Földi, “Essence of the Senses”, which premiered at the National Dance Theatre Budapest in November 2019.

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