Ana Clara Guerra Marques
Encyclopedia
Ana Clara Guerra Marques is an Angola
n professional dancer.
). In 1975, Angola
gained independence and all the dancing teachers left the country. Thus, having completed the First Course of Dance Teachers in 1978, and despite her young age, she was designated to take charge of the sole dancing school in the country. Whether through her own activity as a professional dancer and choreographer, or through meetings, conferences and workshops she directs, she promoted and defended with perseverance the destiny of dancing as an artistic language in Angola
.
In 1990, she completed the dancing high course at the Escola Superior de Dança de Lisboa in Portugal
and received a special degree in pedagogy
. In 1991, she set up the first professional dancing company in Angola, the Contemporary Dance Company of Angola
. In 1995, she was given the IDENTITY prize by the UNAC (Union of Artists and Composers). In 2006 received the "Diploma of Honor from the Ministry of Culture" and the "National Prize for Arts" in the Dance category, for her contribution in the fields of education, artistic creation, research and culture of their country.
Pioneering contemporary dance in Angola, she introduced new ways and new concepts in dancing performances, as done in Corpusnágua, Solidão, 1 Morto e os Vivos e 5 Estátuas para Masongi, which were held in non-conventional areas, underlining her activity with well-known Angolan writers, painters and sculptors, as Manuel Rui Monteiro, Pepetela
, Frederico Ningi, Jorge Gumbe, Francisco Van-Dúnem and António Ole.
Endowed with a strong spirit of observation, as well as a personal and perspicacious criticism about the world and the life, she brings her personality in her creations, thus involving a reading and an assertion of her own style, as it can be noted in some choreographic works she created and run, such as "A propósito de Lueji, Mea Culpa, Imagem & Movimento or Uma Frase qualquer... & Outras (frases)". Looking for a diversification of dancing languages, her creations are based on a personal research on traditional and popular dances existing in some regions of Angola
, and statuary, gathering all the collected elements to create a personal and contemporary language of Angolan dancing.
She also introduces Inclusive Dance in Angola by integrating disabled and non-disabled dancers in the Contemporary Dance Company of Angola creations.
The social criticism is another option taken by the choreographer, since dancing is not a passive activity, but a powerful tool of intervention. Through Palmas, Por Favor!, Neste País..., Agora não dá! ‘Tou a Bumbar... and Os Quadros do Verso Vetusto, this choreographer takes upon herself her criticism and irreverence. As an executive of the Angolan Ministry of Education and Culture, she takes part in the conception and elaboration of academic programs, stressing the importance and the necessity of institutional dancing teaching in Angola. She still keeps on with the development of her own research and enquiry on existing and extinguishing Angolan traditional dances, for a later technical systemization. She has a Master’s degree in Artistic Performance - Dance and she is a member of the International Dance Council - CID-UNESCO.
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n professional dancer.
Career
In 1970, at 8 years old, she started to learn classical dancing at the Dancing Academy of Luanda (AngolaAngola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
). In 1975, Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
gained independence and all the dancing teachers left the country. Thus, having completed the First Course of Dance Teachers in 1978, and despite her young age, she was designated to take charge of the sole dancing school in the country. Whether through her own activity as a professional dancer and choreographer, or through meetings, conferences and workshops she directs, she promoted and defended with perseverance the destiny of dancing as an artistic language in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
.
In 1990, she completed the dancing high course at the Escola Superior de Dança de Lisboa in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and received a special degree in pedagogy
Pedagogy
Pedagogy is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction....
. In 1991, she set up the first professional dancing company in Angola, the Contemporary Dance Company of Angola
Contemporary Dance Company of Angola
The Contemporary Dance Company of Angola , founded in 1991, is a professional Angolan dance group.-External links:* at balletcompanies.com...
. In 1995, she was given the IDENTITY prize by the UNAC (Union of Artists and Composers). In 2006 received the "Diploma of Honor from the Ministry of Culture" and the "National Prize for Arts" in the Dance category, for her contribution in the fields of education, artistic creation, research and culture of their country.
Pioneering contemporary dance in Angola, she introduced new ways and new concepts in dancing performances, as done in Corpusnágua, Solidão, 1 Morto e os Vivos e 5 Estátuas para Masongi, which were held in non-conventional areas, underlining her activity with well-known Angolan writers, painters and sculptors, as Manuel Rui Monteiro, Pepetela
Pepetela
Artur Carlos Maurício Pestana dos Santos is a major Angolan writer of fiction. He writes under the name Pepetela....
, Frederico Ningi, Jorge Gumbe, Francisco Van-Dúnem and António Ole.
Endowed with a strong spirit of observation, as well as a personal and perspicacious criticism about the world and the life, she brings her personality in her creations, thus involving a reading and an assertion of her own style, as it can be noted in some choreographic works she created and run, such as "A propósito de Lueji, Mea Culpa, Imagem & Movimento or Uma Frase qualquer... & Outras (frases)". Looking for a diversification of dancing languages, her creations are based on a personal research on traditional and popular dances existing in some regions of Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, and statuary, gathering all the collected elements to create a personal and contemporary language of Angolan dancing.
She also introduces Inclusive Dance in Angola by integrating disabled and non-disabled dancers in the Contemporary Dance Company of Angola creations.
The social criticism is another option taken by the choreographer, since dancing is not a passive activity, but a powerful tool of intervention. Through Palmas, Por Favor!, Neste País..., Agora não dá! ‘Tou a Bumbar... and Os Quadros do Verso Vetusto, this choreographer takes upon herself her criticism and irreverence. As an executive of the Angolan Ministry of Education and Culture, she takes part in the conception and elaboration of academic programs, stressing the importance and the necessity of institutional dancing teaching in Angola. She still keeps on with the development of her own research and enquiry on existing and extinguishing Angolan traditional dances, for a later technical systemization. She has a Master’s degree in Artistic Performance - Dance and she is a member of the International Dance Council - CID-UNESCO.