MARIANA TENGNER BARROS is a choreographer, dancer, performer, and the artistic director of A Bela Associação.
She has choreographed and performed in numerous solo and group pieces, notably The Trap (winner of the Jardin D’Europe-Austria Audience Award in 2011), EXI(s)T(s) (2018), Instructions for the gods (2017), A Power Ballad (2013), and Resurrection (2017), both co-created with Mark Tompkins.
Her work is fueled by her fascination with the “spectacle” of life, the way people represent and present themselves in the social planes of existence, and the tensions between worlds. Over the last decade, she has been investigating the figure of the witch, her connection to the sacred feminine, and her symbolism as a rebel against oppression. Dance is the basis for a highly multidisciplinary work, with a strong musical contribution from collaborating musicians Jonny Kadaver and Mee_K.
She combines her work as a creator and performer with teaching in different contexts, as well as social action work, namely the ongoing project Floresta Invisível (Invisible Forest), focused on the defense of century-old trees and the promotion of environmental awareness.
Improvisation is a constant tool in her practices and work, both in terms of research and creation. As a performer, she highlights her collaborations with Meg Stuart, Francisco Camacho, and John Romão. She is a singer and keyboardist for the band KUNDALINI XS. In 2016, she received the Municipal Cultural Merit Award from the Vila Nova de Famalicão City Council for her professional career.