Deborah Colker
(Director and Choreographer)
Deborah Colker studied and performed as a pianist for 12 years, as well as studying psychology and playing professional volleyball. Between 1980 and 1988 she danced, choreographed and taught for Coringa Dance Group under the direction of Graciela Figueroa. In 1984 she was invited by the Brazilian actress Dina Sfat to choreograph the movement scenes for a theatre play, starting what was to become her main career activity over the next 10 years. The title ‘movement director’ had not yet been used in Brazil and was suggested by Ulisses Cruz, a famous director, to define Deborah’s pioneering work in theatre. She went on to collaborate with many of the country’s most important directors and actors on more than 30 plays. Deborah also choreographed music shows and video clips for a variety of Brazilian pop stars. For the famous Rio Carnival she regularly choreographs the group that opens the parade of each Samba School.
Deborah established her own company in 1994 following an invitation to participate in the Carlton Dance Festival and has since created ten full-length dance pieces: Vulcão, Velox, Mix, Rota, Casa, 4 por 4, Knot, Dynamo, Cruel and Tatyana. Her work has been recognized in various Brazilian awards ceremonies over the years. She was also the first Brazilian artist to receive a Laurence Olivier Award in 2001, winning the ‘Outstanding Achievement in Dance’ category for her choreography of Mix at the Barbican. In 2003 Deborah debuted an evening of work as a guest choreographer at Komische Oper Berlin including Ela, a newly commissioned piece, and Casa, originally created for her own company in 1999. This resulted in the development of Knot, which has been presented across Brazil and the UK since its 2005 premiere at the Movimentos Dance Festival in Germany.
In 2008 Deborah wrote, directed and choreographed Cirque du Soleil’s newest show, OVO, which premiered in 2009 in Quebec. She has the distinction of being the first woman to direct for Cirque du Soleil.