Victor Hugo Pontes

Born in 1978 in Guimarães, Portugal.

Drama Course at Balleteatro Escola Profissional and Teatro Universitário do Porto, (3 years, concluded 1999). Graduated in Fine Arts & Painting by Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade do Porto (Oporto University, Fine Arts School). Norwich School of Arts & Design in Norwich, UK, 2001. Course of Choreographical Research and Creation at Forum Dança, Lisbon, 2003. Theatre Direction course, directed by Third Angel at Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, 2004. “Projet Thierry Salmon” la nouvelle Ecole des Maîtres, directed by Pippo Delbono, Belgium and Italy, 2006.

As a performer, worked with Moncho Rodriguez, Joclécio Azevedo, João Garcia Miguel, Nuno Carinhas, João Paulo Costa, Ana Luísa Guimarães, Lígia Pape, Jack Souvant, Isabel Barros, Mário Afonso, Alberto Magno, Elisabete Magalhães, Third Angel, Mathilde Monnier, Clara Andermatt, Charlie Degot, Vera Santos.

As a director, created the dance piece Puzzle at Festival da Fábrica (2003) and Danse a Lille, France (2005); Voz Off (Voice Off) presented at Festival “Quadros de Dança”, (2005); Laboratório (Laboratory) at Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (2005); 100 Palavras (100 Words) co-created with Wilma Moutinho at Program Inter.Faces (2005); Ícones presented at Fundação de Serralves, (2006); Voyeur at “Quadros de Dança” Festival (2006); Fotomontagem (Photomontage), Centro Cultural de Belém (2007), Ensaio (Rehearsal), based on texts by Susan Sontag, for the program “The state of the World”, at Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (2007); Manual de Instruções (Instructions Manual), Centro Cultural Vila Flor (2009); Vice-Versa, Teatro Maria Matos (2010);

Worked as a assistant director of Nuno Cardoso in Woyzeck, by Georg Buchner (2005); Plasticina by Vassili Sigarev (2006), Platónov, by Anton Tchékhov (2008), produced by Teatro Nacional S. João, (Oporto National Theatre), Richard II e R2 by William Shakespeare, produced by Teatro Nacional D. Maria II (Lisbon National Theatre / 2007), The good person of Szechuan of Bertolt Brecht, produced by (Centro Dramático Galego/ Spain / 2008) and Menagerie du verre of Tenneessee Willians (Ao cabo Teatro / 2009);

Selected as young talent in Portugal at the contest Jovens Criadores (Young Talents) with the video piece Eu gosto muito de ti (I like you so much / 2004); and with the dance pieces Voz Off (2005) and Ícones (Icons / 2006); Portuguese representation at the International show of Europe and the Mediterranean, Bari, Italy /2008)

First Prize with the piece Ícones at 2nd International Choreography Competition, Ludwigshafen 07, “No-Ballett” in Germany / 2007;

Residency of “Repérages 2005”, Munich, organised by Danse à Lille and Tanztendez (2005); and “Mugatxoan”, San Sebastian and Oporto, organised by Arteleku and Fundação de Serralves (2006).

Regular teaching at Balleteatro Escola Profissional, since 2003.

Presently, works as actor in “L`Européenne” directed by David Lescot, produced by Theatre de La Ville, (Paris)/ Napoli Teatro Festival, (Napoles) and direct a new piece Rendez-vous production of O Espaço do Tempo (Portugal) / Uzès Danse (France) / TanzWerkstaat Berlin (Germany) that will have premier in June of 2010.