João Maio is a dancer, performer and choreographer, as well as an Independent Board Member at Leeds Dance Partnership and a Creative Producer at Open Source Arts.
Born in Portugal, João trained at Balleteatro Professional School, Porto, before enrolling onto the BA Contemporary Dance at NSCD where he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in 2015.
Whilst training at NSCD, João was invited to work with Carlos Pons Guerra’s DeNada Dance Theatre, playing the soloist role of the Virgin Mary in O Maria. About O Maria Maio says:
This opportunity allowed me to not only develop my artistry within a professional setting, but also to be introducted to the British artistic landscape.
Image © Aldona Lis
After graduation, João began to work with Rosie Kay Dance Company on several projects, including the 2017 and 2018 tours of MK Ultra (4* Luke Jennings, The Observer.)
Alongside working as a professional dance artist and teacher, João developed an interest in arts management, and returned to NSCD in 2017 to study on the MA in Dance and Creative Enterprise.
This programme supported me in researching concepts I was particularly interested in within the cultural agency context, whilst also offering tools and strategies that enhance my work today as an independent dance artist and producer.
In Autumn 2019, João is working with Gracefool Collective, supporting the tour management and rehearsals of the UK tour of This Is Not A Wedding.
João currently works as a creative producer for Open Source Arts and a dance teacher at Leeds University Union.
Image © Mario Reyes
