Founded in 2001, Vórtice Dance Company is a renowned name in contemporary dance, recognized for its innovative fusion of technology and movement. Under the artistic direction of Cláudia Martins and Rafael Carriço, the company is based in Portugal, and has established a strong cultural presence nationally, and internationally, performing in over 35 countries.
Vórtice’s repertoire includes acclaimed productions such as “Carmina Burana” (2024), “Le Sacre du Printemps”, “Dracula“, “Your Majesties, Welcome to the Anthropocene“, “Soliloquy about Wonderland”, “Fátima, The Day the Sun Danced“, “The Bradley Theodore Show”. During the pandemic, the company reinvented itself with the project “DEUS Menino” and in 2022, it completed over 21 international performances in UK, Brazil, and Spain.
The company has performed in prestigious venues worldwide, including the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées (Paris), Finnish National Opera, Riga National Opera, Bucharest National Opera, Macedonian Opera, Coliseu de Lisboa, Coliseu do Porto, Teatro Bradesco São Paulo and Rio, de Janeiro, Teatro Tivoli BBVA, Grimaldi Forum (Monaco), Palácio Real de Madrid, and Olympia Theater (Miami), among others theatres and festivals.
Cláudia Martins and Rafael Carriço were the choreographers of “Guillemin une Gare à Vous,” the inaugural performance of Liège TGV station, a production by Franco Dragone, which was broadcast live on the Mezzo channel. They were also the choreographers of the final gala of the Stars of Science program in Doha, at the Qatar Foundation, which was broadcast live in 15 Arab countries.
Since the beginning of its career, Vortice Dance Company has seen its artistic work honored with numerous international awards, including: UNESCO Grand Prix of Choreography (Helsinki, 2001), Audience Award at the Japan International Ballet & Modern Dance Competition (2002), Phillip Morris Recognition Award at the International Baltic Ballet Festival (Riga Opera, 2004 & 2008), Audience Award at the Best Solo and Duet Festival (TRAFO, Budapest, 2005), Culture Award at the Troféus Afonso Lopes Vieira Gala (Portugal, 2010)
In 2024, the choreographer duo created Carmina Burana to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Teatro Tivoli BBVA in Lisbon.
With a strong focus on technological research in dance, VORTICE explores new artistic languages to expand forms of expression and engage new audiences. The company also supports the professionalization of artists and the integration of young talents, collaborating with various institutions and participating in major international festivals.
With its pioneering vision and global impact, Vortice Dance Company continues to shape the future of contemporary dance, contributing to the decentralization of the arts in Portugal and beyond.
Chroma premiered in 2024 and is one of the company’s most recent creations.