Teresa Manjua (b. 1994, Portugal) is an artist and choreographer whose practice serves as a radical investigation into the body as a site of cultural memory. Her work operates at the intersection of contemporary dance and social innovation, challenging the traditional hierarchies of performance by placing marginalized and neurodivergent bodies at the center as the primary architects of contemporary expression.

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As the founder and artistic director of the itinerant project Palavras Deitadas ao Corpo (since 2023), Teresa has established a unique methodology that has been implemented across three continents (Asia, South America and Africa). By synthesizing rigorous choreographic techniques with sociological research, she transforms local rituals and daily gestures into professional-grade performance art. Her work consistently demonstrates that artistic excellence and radical inclusivity are not only compatible, but also essential to the evolution of the performing arts.

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Teresa’s professional practice is built upon a foundation of technical rigor. A graduate of the Escola Superior de Dança (Lisbon, Portugal, 2015), she has developed her expertise through extensive collaborations with international choreographers and companies, including the Polish Dance Theatre, Roberto Olivan, and Adam Benjamin.

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Her commitment to democracy in the arts has been recognized by major national and international institutions, such as DGArtes (Directorate-General for the Arts of Portugal), the OEI (Organization of Ibero-American States), the National Culture Center, and the Arte Institute (a non-profit organization based in New York, dedicated to the international promotion of Portuguese contemporary art).

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With a career defined by international residencies and high-impact collaborative projects, Teresa Manjua is at the forefront of a global movement to define a more inclusive, equitable, and profound lexicon for contemporary performance.