Born in Lisbon, Maria Palmeirim was a student of Anna Mascolo. She studied in London with Errol Addison, Anna Northcote and Anna Marie Holmes. Later in Monte Carlo, she studied with Marika Besobrasova where she began her career. During her time abroad, she danced with the Companhia da Ópera de Marseille and the Ballet de Marseille, under the direction of Roland Petit, touring to many countries including the Soviet Union.

Returning to Portugal she joined the Grupo de Bailados Verde Gaio between 1974 e 1977. She has been a member of the Companhia Nacional de Bailado since its inception and danced in most of the répertoire as well as creating rôles in many new ballets.

Maria Palmeirim’s career took on new direction when she was invited by the Director, Armando Jorge, to become Ballet Mistress of the Company. During this time, she assisted many choreographers such as Patricia Neary, Oscar Arraiz, Terry Westmoreland, John Auld, Armando Jorge, Georges Garcia, Lynn Wallis, Michel Renault, Francesca Zumbo, Eric Volodine, Maya Volodina, Monica Parker, Hans Brenna, Glenn Tuggle, Victoria Simon, Michael Corder, Howard Sayette, in the mounting and rehearsing of ballets for the Company. She also held the position of Assistant Artistic Director from 1990 to 1996.

She now is responsible for re-mounting most of the classical repertoire for the Company: Swan Lake, Giselle, Nutcracker(Petipa/A.Jorge), La Sylphide, Coppélia, Petruska, A Midsummers Night Dream(A.Jorge), Paquita, Bayadére, Les Sylphides, Raymonda, Prelúdios, D. Quixote (Petipa/Volodine), Suite en Blanc, Carmina Burana, Concerto (Mcmillan), Sleeping Beauty, Napoli, Baile dos Cadetes, As Bodas, the Balanchine ballets: Serenade, Concerto Barroco, Apollo, The 4 Temperaments, Theme and Variations, Who Cares?, Apollo e Agon.

She was contracted by the Balanchine Foundation to mount Serenade and Concerto Barroco for the Ballet Nacional da Eslovénia em 2003, and was appointed Guest Ballet Mistress for this company.

In addition to her position as Ballet Mistress at the CNB, she continues to travel worldwide to stage productions and is guest teacher at several schools where she takes an interest in the training and development of students and teachers.

Brigitta Luisa studied with the legendary dancer and choreographer Susana of the duo Susana y José and with various other famous Flamenco artists in Spain including Mercedes y Albano, Ciro, Maria Magdalena, La Tati, Paco Fernandez.

• 1984 Founding of the company Flamencos en route. Since then creation of over 18 choreographies.
• 1994 she became the artistic director of the ensemble.

Brigitta Luisa's long-term artistic cooperation with composer Antonio Robledo and the legendary dancer and choreographer Susana has had a decisive influence on her artistic development. This cooperation resulted in the creation of a series of solo programs and elaborate stage works, which toured internationally. The company has gained an international reputation thanks to the originality and high artistic standards of its productions. Brigitta Luisa's continuous artistic creations are characterized by her persistent search for a unique, contemporary dance language - a language which stays true to the authenticity and the inner, real expression of Flamenco.

For 25 years, Brigitta Luisa has dedicated herself to intensive teaching activities in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. Among others she taught at the Palucca school – Dance college in Dresden (Germany), at the Academy for Music and Performing arts in Heidelberg/ Mannheim (Germany), at the TaZ – Dance academy, professional school, Zurich (Switzerland). Teaching international summer courses in Bolzano (Italy), Dresden, Neuchâtel (Switzerland), Zurich and Châteauroux (France).

In her precisely planned classes she attaches great importance to a dance experience integrating both body and mind. Her teaching methodology emphasises the personal dancing quality and the comprehension as well as the immersion of dance and music. The live guitar accompaniment allows students to experience Flamenco in its entire sensuality.

• 1999 Brigitta Luisa Merki received the cultural award of the "AZ Medien", Switzerland.
• 2004 she was awarded the” Hans Reinhart Ring” Switzerland’s highest award in the performing arts given by the Swiss Society for Theatre for her innovative work.

Graduated in Ballet at the Institut del Teatre of Barcelona. After two years studying Limón (Risa Steinberg) Horton (Milton Myers), Release and Graham in New York she graduated in Contemporary Dance at the same Institut.

She has danced with the following companies:

• Dart Cia de Dansa
• Trànsit
• Metros

Natàlia has choreographed for dance, theater and musical for several institutions: Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico, Gran Teatro de la Zarzuela, Dagoll Dagom, Accés Teatre, Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, etc.

Currently she is a member of the Contemporary Dance Faculty of the Institut del Teatro as well as running her own Dance Studio in Barcelona. 

Classes are based on Natalia's dance experiences from which she has developed her own method combining different modern and contemporary techniques.

Dianne Cheesman danced professionally for 6 years starting at the age of 17, first with PACT, later with CAPAB, before embarking on a teaching career.

In 2002, she graduated from Durham University, England, having gained a B. Phil (Hons) in Studies of Dance. She is a Graded Examiner of the Royal Academy of Dance, London, and is Senior Lecturer at the UCT School of Dance.

She has also been the South Africa Representative of the Executive Committee of the Royal Academy of Dance.

Dianne has been teaching for over 30 years. She managed her own private school for 16 years and since then has been Principal of the University of Cape Town Junior Ballet School. Over the years there have been many students who have gone on to dance professionally both nationally and internationally and over 1OO students have graduated as teachers.

In 2005 she founded the Cape Junior Ballet Company.

Cristina Zatti was born in Iseo, northern Italy. She commenced ballet studies in Brescia, and in 1981 studied with Penny Walter in Milan where she gained her Teachers' Certificate.

In 1983 she founded her school ‘enjoydance’ and over many years has taught children and students from the youngest age to professional level including directing courses for teachers.

Her student Valentino Zucchetti was the winner of the gold medal at the prestigious Genée competion in Hong Kong, in 2006.

Cristina is a Graded Examiner of the Royal Academy of Dance and is a frequent guest at schools all over the world coaching children, students and teachers.

Fife born Kenn trained in his home-town of North Queensferry before joining Scottish Ballet's scholarship scheme. After completing his training at the Royal Ballet School in 1975, he returned to Scotland to dance with Scottish Ballet.

During his time with the company, he danced leading roles in ‘Othello’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Le Spectre de la Rose’ and many other works. He was guest artist with various companies, including National Ballet of Portugal.

In 1988, he was invited to join the Hong Kong Ballet as principal dancer also staging many works including Jack Carter’s ‘Three Dances to Japanese Music’ and Peter Darrell’s ‘Nutcracker’.

Kenn Burke was appointed Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet 2 in 1990, which performed small scale touring works throughout the UK, China and Malaysia.

He was Assistant Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet under Galina Samsova and subsequently became the Acting Artistic Director.

Since leaving Scottish Ballet he has staged ‘Le Spectre de la Rose’ for the Royal Ballet and worked as guest teacher for a number of high profile companies throughout the world. He has held the post of Director of Dance for Aberdeen International Youth Festival for many years and now is working freelance.

John Mowat was born and brought up in London where he still lives. He was asked to leave school at the age of 15 and took an apprenticeship in the heating and ventilating industry before studying Sculpture at the Royal Academy School, London. His career in the theatre began in 1980 when he performed his first one-man show in London.

He has been presenting his highly visual style of comedy to audiences throughout the world and his work as a performer and director has been seen in over 40 countries.

His association with Portugal began in 1992 when he performed and taught at Chapitô in Lisbon. He first worked with the Companhia do Chapitô on a piece for Expo 98 and since has devised and directed numerous pieces.

During December 2003, John Mowat devised and directed for Companhia Paulo Ribeiro, a play based on Gil Vicente's Auto da Barca do Inferno and in 2005, Shakespeare's Twelfth Night with Leonor Keil. He is currently working on several new productions in England and Portugal.

As a faculty member he has worked with the Royal Academy of Dance on Summer Schools and with the RAD College “Workshop” productions over many years.

His lecturing and teaching has included residences at many dance, drama and music colleges in London.

Born in Sarnico,Italy, Michele Vegis began ballet studies at "enjoydance Ballet School" directed by Cristina Zatti ( Examiner - Royal Academy of Dance). He graduated with the Royal Academy of Dance, London in 1995, gaining its highest level of examination, the Solo Seal Award.

He also studied at the London Studio Centre in 1993 under the direction of David Wall and Margareth Barbieri. Michele was awarded the “Young Talent Prize” in Florence, in 1995. He also won awards in choreographic competitions with his first choreography “In re minore”.

Michele danced with “Balletto di Parma”, “Ensemble de Micha Van Oecke” and in Teatro Massimo, in Catania.In 1999, he was appointed a soloist in the company of the Arena of Verona.

In 2000, he graduated, with distinction, as a RAD Teacher specialising in Vocational studies

For eleven years, he was a member of the corps de ballet at the Teatro alla Scala di Milano, where he danced in the most important ballets of the classical repertoire and had the chance to choreograph for some of the dancers in many performances.

He is now a guest teacher in many schools in Italy and internationally.

Since 1995 Sandro has accompanied ballet and modern dance working with teachers such as Gillian Anthony, Elaine Holland, Margaret Barbieri, Maurizio Bellezza, Shirley Grahame, Patricia Linton, Carla Perotti, Niurka De Saa, Renata Justino, Cristina Trinchero, Roberta Botti.

He has played for workshops, summer schools and examinations for the Royal Academy of Dance of London, Associazione Balletto Classico of Verona, Tanzsommer Festival of Bolzano, Legadanza Rimini, Teatro Nuovo of Torino, Modern Dance Academy.

He has composed and arranged 9 CD’s for the Modern Dance Academy and also Music for Ballet, Volumes 1 and 2

Born in Cadiz. At the age of 10, he started studying flamenco guitar with Maestro Don Manuel Vicenti. Over many years he has accompanied singers and various dance groups from Cadiz in performing at various Flamenco Peñas (clubs) including: "La Perla" and "Enrique el Mellizo".

He undertook a course in 1992 at Manolo Sanlucar. At 21, he began his professional career, performiing with well-known flamenco artists in Spain, including: Maria Cornejo, Pansequito, and Capullo de Jerez.

He also played with the dance company of Joaquin Grilo in the Summer Festival of Jerez in the production "Jacara" and the "Fiesta de Buleria 2000“ Galas with Javier Baron.

He has toured with various groups in Brazil, Venezuela, Japan, Jerusalem and Europe.

Since 2000, he has worked on musical and compositional cooperation with the flamenco dance company, “Flamencos en route“

He has provided dance accompaniment for Brigitta Luisa Merki in international summer courses in Bolzano, Zurich, Dresden, Salzburg and Chãteauroux

Luis was born in San Sebastián, Spain, where he studied piano and composition.

He has worked as a dance accompanist and composer in many parts of Europe, USA and Japan, working with artists such as Angel Corella, Natalia Makarova, Lola de Ávila, Carmen Roche, Victor Ullate, Igal Perry, Azari Plizetski, Jean Claude Gallotta, Anne Teresa de Keersmaker, David Zambrano, Susanne Linke, Milton Myers, Wim Vandekeybus.

Luis has also worked with the José Limón Dance Company, the Jennifer Muller Company, Institut del Teatre of Barcelona, and at the International Tanzwochen, Wien. 

He composed the ballet ‘Mariana Pineda’ for the Ballet de Cuba as well as many other pieces for dance and theatre He has also recorded a number of CDs and is currently engaged in recording his own piano pieces

Born in Porto in 1980.

Studied piano, singing and composition with Norma and Felipe Silvestre and graduated from Ginasiano Dance School, Vila Nova de Gaia. Attended the choir direction major at Codarts, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where he also graduated as a performance dancer and worked as a teacher. He later joined, as a dancer, companies like Introdans - Ensemble for the Youth, Galili Dance and Club Guy & Roni.

He has been playing for dance classes since he was 16 years-old, working with several teachers in schools, companies, workshops and auditions in Portugal and in The Netherlands, ie. the Holland Dance Festival, Companhia Nacional de Bailado, Conservatório Nacional, Companhia Portuguesa de Bailado Contemporâneo, Estágio de Dança de Aveiro.

Composed music for dance pieces in Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. Among others, he worked with Scapino Ballet, Quorum Ballet and Escola de Dança Ana Köhler.

He plays several instruments, performing with several groups in the areas of rock, jazz and traditional music.