Bio
Rui Lopes Graça, a native of Torres Vedras, graduated in dance as a fellow of the Gulbenkian Ballet School and the Professional Training Center of Companhia Nacional de Bailado. In 1985, he joined the cast of this company and became a solo dancer in 1996. He danced much of the repertoire of the CNB in classical and contemporary ballets. In July 1999, he participated in the International Course for Choreographers and Composers of the University of Bretton Hall in England, directed by Robert Cohan, Nigel Osborne, Ivan Kramar and Gale Law. Since 1996, he has choreographed for the National Ballet of Portugal as choreographer guest and resident, Ballet Gulbenkian, Portuguese Contemporary Dance Company, Strasbourg Opera Ballet, Dancing with the Difference Group, National Singing and Dancing Company of Mozambique, Contemporary Dance Company of Angola, and Companhia Rui Lopes Graça, among others.More
His work has been presented in the USA, Holland, Scotland, Spain, France, Norway, Mozambique, Angola, Italy, Cuba, Israel, Mexico and Turkey.
He is currently coordinator of Special Projects of the National Ballet Company. In addition to his activity as a choreographer, he is regularly invited to teach at the School of Dance and at the University of Stavanger in Norway. He holds the Society of Authors Award in the Best Choreography category of 2012, with Pedra Preciosa for the National Ballet Company, in partnership with André Teodósio.
