PEDRO GOUCHA

Since leaving the Netherlands Dance Theater in 2006, Pedro has choreographed extensively for the Korzo Production House in The Hague. His interest and curiosity in how to combine dance with other mediums has led him to participate both as a dancer and choreographer in Carlos Saura’s movie ‘Fados’ as well as collaborate with visual artists and writers.

Since leaving the Netherlands Dance Theater in 2006, Pedro Goucha has choreographed extensively for the Korzo Production House in The Hague (The Netherlands). His interest and curiosity in how to combine dance with other mediums has led him to participate both as a dancer and choreographer in Carlos Saura’s movie ‘Fados’ as well as collaborate with visual artists and writers. In 2008, together with the Dutch writer Bianca Boer, Pedro was invited by the CaDance Festival in co-production with the Crossing Border Festival to choreograph Butterfly Hips. In 2009 he choreographed with the visual artist Hee-Seung Choi Inside the Outside, and Drosera Capensis with Yoko Seyama and Lyndsey Housden for the Holland Dance Festival. He also participated as a performer/choreographer on a project by Nika Neelova (visual artist) and Billy Bultheel (sound artist) where he danced on a 20.000 eggshells weaved carpet.
In 2007 he choreographed “Zullia” for the Portuguese Contemporary Ballet Company and was subsequently appointed its artistic director, position that he held until the end of the year.
Pedro initiated his dancing education at the age of 9 at the school of the National Ballet of Portugal, and at 15 was invited by the Rumanian teacher Sergiu Stefanchi to resume his dance and academic studies at the National Ballet School in Toronto, Canada, where he studied for 3 years with a scholarship from the Portuguese Cultural Ministry.
Upon completing his studies Pedro returned to Europe to join the Stuttgart Ballet under the directionship of Marcia Haydée. In 1996, he was invited by Richard Cragun to join the Deutsche Oper Berlin, where he started choreographing at the company’s choreographic workshops. In 1999 Pedro joined the Compañia Nacional de Danza in Madrid, under the directorship of Nacho Duato, where he danced as a Principal Dancer. In 2002 he joined the DeAnima Ballet in Rio de Janeiro where, while dancing and rehearsing the company, he also taught a group of children from a local “favela”.
In 2003 Pedro joined the Netherlands Dance Theatre, where he worked for three seasons.
Pedro is currently living between The Hague and Lisbon, and complements his freelance choreographic, performing and teacher’s work with academic studies of History of Art at the Open University.