Syrtos Dance Company

ANDREA RAW IRACEMA

Andrea Raw Iracema started her dance studies in 1983, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She studied Ballet, Jazz, Folkloric Dance (Brazilian and foreign), Tap Dance and Modern Dance in several dance schools, such as Gymn Centro de Cultura Física e Artística, Escola Estadual de Danças Maria Olenewa, Ballet Tatiana Leskova e Centro de Artes Nós da Dança. Graduated as BFA (Bacharel of Fine Arts) at University of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO) and in Pedagogy at University Candido Mendes. Ms.Iracema has danced extensively in countless dance festivals throughout Brazil and also performed with "Nós da Dança Dance Company", directed by Regina Sauer and "Khoros Dance Company", directed by Marta Bastos. She started to teach in 1992, focusing her efforts as a modern dance teacher (teaching Lester Horton and Martha Graham techniques) and also becoming a researcher. Among some of the schools where she taught in Brazil, there are Ballet Stagium in São Paulo, Petite Danse, Centro de Movimento Deborah Colker and Escola de Dança Marta Bastos, in Rio de Janeiro. Receipient of a scholarship from Secretary of Culture of Rio de Janeiro (RIOARTE), she started her project "The Modern Dance in Brazil", in which she elaborated a historical panorama of the activity in the country, since its pioneers to the generation of discipules. The research became a book, not yet published, but the same project opened the doors for Andrea to become the assistant and translator to the Martha Graham Company, during their 2005 tour to Brazil. After this contact, Ms. Iracema moved to New York City, where she attended to the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and obtained her graduation as professional dancer and teacher of Martha Graham Technique. In July of 2009, Andrea produced a workshop in Rio de Janeiro, alongside Mr. Tadej Brdnik, principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company, of Technique and Repertoire of Martha Graham, at Rio de Janeiro Choreographic Center.

Syrtos Dance Company was founded by Andrea Raw Iracema in 2006. She partially suspended her activities as choreographer when she moved to NY, due to the intensive work schedule at Martha Graham School - still, she managed to create two pieces - "Winter of the Heart" (2007) and "Vows" (unfinished/2008). Ms.Iracema plans to resume the activities of her company on 2010.