Alain Platel composition
Creating dance-performance material

In this workshop we will explore and experience different techniques of improvisation and composition in dance, inspired by Juliana’s work with the director Alain Platel and Les Ballets C. de la B.
The classes will begin with various and versatile ways to warm up the body, followed by guided
improvisations to open possibilities to create dance and performance material.




Juliana Neves
Juliana was trained in Gymnastics, Ballet and later on in Circus Arts. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. In São Paulo, she was one of the founders and performers of the company Cenica Nau de Icaros, winning several prizes in their Circus-Theatre productions. In 1997, she was chosen to represent Brazil at the American Dance Festival in the International Choreographers Residency Program, where she studied with David Dorfman, Lisa Race and David Zambrano and also performed with Choreographer Maria Rovira. Back home, Juliana joined Quasar Companhia de Danca of Henrique Rodovalho, she left Quasar to join Cirque du Soleil as one of the principal characters of their production “Dralion”. She originated her part and performed 1001 shows over 3 years. Juliana created the “aerial pas–de-deux” act on silks together with aerial coach Andre Simard. This act and her solo act, also on silks, were between the highlights of Dralion and acclaimed by the critics. In 2002 she performed her solo act in China and Brazil.

She is a guest teacher for Circus Juventas (USA), Nau de Icaros and Linhas Aereas (Brazil) and ESAC in Brussels. Coming to Europe in 2002, she performed at “Les Ateliers de Recherche Spectaculaire” directed by Phillipe Decouflé, and later joined Les Ballet C. de la B, first as a dancer in “Wolf” directed by Alain Platel and then as his assistant for his piece "Vsprs".
In 2003, she represented Cirque du Soleil at the Festival Mundial Circo do Brasil, with her solo act on Silks and once more in 2006 for the launching of Cirque’s first tour in Brazil.