Profile
Training
2021- 2023 The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, MA Movement: Directing and Teaching
2017 Body Control Pilates, Mat Pilates teacher certification (Level 3)
2007-2008 London Contemporary Dance School, PG Diploma in Performance (EDge Dance Co)
2006-2007 London Contemporary Dance School, CertHE Diploma in Contemporary Dance
2002-2006 State University of Campinas (UNICAMP, Brazil), BA (Hons) in Dance Studies
1993-2002 Cisne Negro Ballet School (Brazil), Ballet RAD (Advanced II)
Experience
Movement Experience whilst on the MA Movement: Directing and Teaching
2022 Movement Director assistant on placement. Blood Wedding, RCSSD MA Acting Classical students, Embassy Theatre (Ben Naylor and Natasha Federova)
2022 Movement Director on placement. Find me, Full. Fieldwork, Hackney (Sarah Lamb)
2022 Movement Tutor on placement at Rose Bruford College, BA (Hons) American Theatre Arts students (Steven Dykes)
2022 Movement Tutor on placement, RCSSD MA/MFA Advanced Theatre Practice, (mentored by Jane Munro)
As a Movement Director / Choreographer / Rehearsal Director (selection)
2023 Movement Director. RCSSD. Insights: SOGYA In-Development (Patrick Bayele)
2023 Movement Director. VAULT Festival. Theatre of Gulags. (Anya Ostrovskaia)
2022 Movement Director. Camden People’s Theatre. Tunnel Vision. (The Others Theatre Co)
2019 Co-choreographer. Making an EXIT Festival. Gru & Gru. (Chisenhale Dance Commission)
2017 Rehearsal Director. The Place. No Lander. (Choreographer Riccardo Buscarini)
2016 Choreographer. Chelsea Theatre. Turn Upside Down and Walk on the Sky. Alive Dance Co commission.
2011 Co-choreographer. Robin Howard Theatre. Cameo. The Place Prize for Dance. (created alongside A de la Fe and Riccardo Buscarini). sponsored by Bloomberg
As a Movement Teacher (selection)
2017-2023 Mat Pilates Teacher (private and group classes)
2022 Siobhan Davies Studios, Creative Contemporary Dance tutor for adults (Autumn term/ regular cover)
2022 National Centre for Circus Arts, Movement Fundamentals, BA year 1, (Autumn term)
2020 Movement workshop co-facilitator- Online sessions for children/families during the lockdown, Second Hand Dance / Pavilion Dance West partnership
2018 Guest teacher for Kin Collective, Contemporary Dance and Improvisation
2017 Workshop co-facilitator, Roehampton University, Movement practices and creative processes for BA year 1 Dance students. (October)
As a Performer (selection)
2017-2024 Second Hand Dance Co, Rosie Heafford. We Touch, We Play, We Dance & Grass - Devising and performing for children, UK and International Tour
2015-2019 Without Measure Projects, Alex Howard - Dance in relation to wetlands and the migration of wildfowl - Stroud, London, and France
2018 Rosemary Lee, Passage for Par. Durational/ site-specific work with 20 women, Par Beach, Cornwall UK
2013- 2015, Sally Cookson / Wilkie Branson. Varmints, Travelling Light Theatre, Sadler’s Wells and Stratford Circus, UK tour
2013- 2015 Hagit Yakira Dance Theatre. In the Middle with You. British Dance Edition in Glasgow, Laban Theatre, UK tour
2012- 2015 Fevered Sleep, David Harradine & Sam Butler. The Forest / Little Universe / Dusk - Devising and Performing for children, UK tour
2011 Clod Ensemble, Suzy Willson / Paul Clark. An Anatomie in Four Quarters. Fuel, Sadlerʼs Wells Theatre
Awards
The Place Prize for Dance (Finalist), 2011
Lunn Prothero Scholarship (London Contemporary Dance School), 2008
Memberships
UK Equity
Body Control Pilates Association (UK)
Biography
Mari is a London-based movement director, teacher and performer born in São Paulo, Brazil. She has worked with a range of independent artists and companies such as Fevered Sleep, Second Hand Dance, Clod Ensemble and Hagit Yakira Dance.
Mari is passionate about collaborative devising, education and performance. Her movement practice is rooted in and inspired by contemporary dance, improvisation, somatic dance practices, contact work, and a range of experiences drawn from her movement heritage. She is interested in exploring movement tasks that heighten awareness, responsiveness, connection, change of perspective, and curiosity. Mari facilitates movement with great sensitivity and commitment and aims to celebrate and empower actors’ unique physical qualities.
Skills
Contemporary dance (Floor work, Release), Ballet, Partnering, Contact Improvisation, Laban, Choreography, Capoeira and Afro-Brazilian Dances, Improvisation for performance and instant composition, Ensemble work, Devising processes, Inclusive practice, Elements, Somatic practices (BMC, Bartennieff Fundamentals, Experiential anatomy) mat Pilates, Yoga, Enhanced DBS.
