The embryo of what would be Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker was born in 1993, in the dance halls of Casa do Minho in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Deborah used to teach. A year later the company made its debut at the Globo em Movimento festival at Rio’s Municipal Theatre, in a double bill with Momix Dance Group. As a result of its hard work and obvious talent, the company quickly earned an official sponsorship from the Brazilian State Oil Company, Petrobras, which has allowed it to invest in soaring flights of creation and establish a strong reputation in the world of dance. With the freedom to develop in its own Rio-based centre, the company has been working to create new dance languages and original scenic elements, combining contemporary and traditional techniques and drawing on everyday themes that audiences can relate to. Over the years Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker has staged performances in Argentina, Austria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, England, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Macao, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, Uruguay, USA and Wales. With an international reputation as one of today’s leading contemporary dance companies, it has collected several awards in Brazil and is also the recipient of a Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance. Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker is exclusively sponsored by the Brazilian State Oil Company – Petrobras