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Deborah Colker

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Deborah Colker
Deborah Colker in 2013
Born (1960-12-06) December 6, 1960 (age 63)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Occupation(s)Theater director, writer, choreographer, dancer

Deborah Colker (born December 6, 1960, Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian writer, theater director, dancer and choreographer.[1] She was an awardee of the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance. Colker was also the movement director and choreographer of the 2016 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

Career

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Colker began working as a movement director in 1984. She was involved in more 30 plays, working with Brazil's prominent director and actors.[2] She founded her dance company, the Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker, in 1993.[3] One of her early works was Velox, which explored movement and space and integrated movements from ordinary life.[3] It focused on fusing street, classical, and contemporary dances that do not only include dancers as performers, but also actors and fashion models.[4] One of the notable performances in the company's repertoire was Mix, which featured a collection of movements that investigate the physics of motion on a vertical stage.[5] This choreography won for Colker the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance in 2001.[6]

In 2009, she wrote, directed and choreographed the Cirque du Soleil production, Ovo.[7] Her works include 4 por 4 ("4 x 4"), which involved a quartet of dances that also featured high-class circus choreography.[8] This performance explored concepts such as containment, delicacy, limitation, daring, and transparency.[9]

Colker was responsible for the more than 6,000 volunteers who danced in the Rio Olympics opening ceremony.[10] She combined Velox and Rota performances, which were part of the repertoire of her dance company.[4]

Personal life

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Colker is of Jewish Russian descent, her grandparents on both sides were Jewish Russians who immigrated to Brazil.[11][12]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ "A história de vida de Deborah Colker: Deborah Colker". Museu da Pessoa (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "Deborah Colker | Kennedy Center". www.kennedy-center.org. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Deborah Colker". Edinburgh International Culture Summit. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Deborah Colker: The Olympian Choreographer of Brazil | Icons". www.danceicons.org. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  5. ^ "Deborah Colker Dance Company". www.israel-opera.co.il. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  6. ^ "Olivier Awards with MasterCard – Official Site". Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  7. ^ David Ng (January 21, 2012). "Theater review: 'Ovo' by Cirque du Soleil at Santa Monica Pier". Los Angeles Times.
  8. ^ "Companhia De Danca Deborah Colker". The New Yorker. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "4 por 4 | Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker". Cia Deborah Colker (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  10. ^ "Opening ceremony choreographer promises masterpiece of dance and passion". Archived from the original on August 7, 2016.
  11. ^ "Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker vem a BH com espetáculo "Sagração", neste fim de semana". www.otempo.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  12. ^ "Deborah Colker: "Renasci com meu neto"". VEJA RIO (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved October 27, 2024.
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