It is not by chance that director/choreographer Deborah Colker trademarks her work with diversity and unrest. She studied Psychology, played volleyball and studied piano for ten years. Beginning in 1980, Colker danced, choreographed and taught for eight years at Grupo Coringa.
In 1984 Colker became a movement director, a position that would be the most important part of her career for ten years. As movement director, Deborah Colker worked on over 30 plays with the country’s most important directors and actors. Colker also choreographed music shows and videoclips. For three years in a row she choreographed the Front Commission of Mangueira School of Samba (1995- 1997). She was also invited to choreograph the Front Comission of Viradouro School of Samba for the 2004 Carnival parade. The moment to create Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker came in 1994. Since then, she created six full-length dance pieces for her company VULCÃO, VELOX, MIX, ROTA, CASA and 4 POR 4.
In 2002 Deborah was invited by the Berlin Ballet - Komische Oper for an entire evening to be a guest choreographer, an evening which became part of the repertoire of the company. For this program, which premiered in February 2003 in Berlin, Deborah created “ELA” for the Berlin Ballet that was presented together with “CASA”, a piece originally created for Colker’s own company in 1999.
She has won several awards, including one of the most distinguished in Brazil- Prêmio Ministério da Cultura and the Laurence Olivier Award 2001 for her choreography of Mix.
In 2009 Deborah created and directed the latest Cirque de Soleil’s show Ovo.