Vera Mantero

Vera Mantero studied classical dance until 18 years old and danced in the Gulbenkian Ballet (Lisbon) between 1984 and 1989. She started choreographing in 1987, and since 1991 presents her work all over Europe, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Singapore, South Korea and USA. She teaches composition and improvisation in Portugal and abroad. Since 2000, she also explore vocal work and co-creating experimental music projects. In 2004, she represented Portugal at the 26th São Paulo Art Biennial with the sculptor Rui Chafes and their co-creation Eating your heart out. Her artistic work has been recognized with institutional awards: Almada Price in 2002 or the Gulbenkian Price in 2009 for her career as creator and performer. “Life is a terribly complicated and rich phenomenon and I see the work I do as a continuous fight against the impoverishment of the spirit, both mine and others, a fight that I consider essential now and always.”  

“Relaxation, the use of voice, writing, breathing and free association are some means to be used in this workshop in order to find the movements and actions going on inside us. We will explore some of them separately first in order to incorporate them later in longer and more complex improvisational processes. The idea of getting inside a particular state of consciousness is very important. Awareness and use of space, the exploration of objects and materials will not be forgotten. Irony and empty hands will take us further.” Vera Mantero