CORE TEAM
programming, visual direction and management JULIETA GUIMARÃES
Julieta Guimarães holds a degree in Theatre Studies from ESMAE (2005). She also completed postgraduate studies in Theatre – Educational, Social and Intervention Contexts at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, and in Arts Management at Universidade Católica. She holds a Master’s in Production and Stage Direction from ESMAE (2018). Cofounder of ERVA DANINHA (2006), she serves as artistic director and curator of several projects such as Corrente Alterna (TNSJ, 2013), Trengo – Porto Circus Festival, and Mostra Estufa. She has also worked as a programmer for Ciclo Vão de Escada, production assistant for FITEI in 2011, and production director of the same festival in 2012 and 2013. In 2022, she was awarded the Porto City Council’s Gold Medal of Merit for her contribution to the development of contemporary circus.
artistic direction, programming and technical direction VASCO GOMES
Vasco Gomes studied Cultural Animation at the Higher Institute of Educational Sciences (2001). He has been working professionally in contemporary circus since 1999 with various national organizations. As artistic director of ERVA DANINHA, he develops research focused on the object|symbol through artistic creation. Over the past 15 years, he has directed more than 20 original works, including “Aduela,” a performance linking the European Capitals of Culture 2012 – Guimarães/Maribor, and “VÃO,” winner of the 5 Sentidos Grant. He also works as a trainer, especially in intervention projects within educational, reintegration, and social centers. He currently teaches at the Academia Contemporânea do Espetáculo.
productionANDREW OSSADA
Andrew Goh Ossada was born in Japan in 1992 and raised in Brazil. He studied IT, completing his course in 2010 with a specialization in Digital Games. In 2015, he earned a further degree in Systems Analysis and Development at FATEC – São Paulo. Until 2017, he worked in IT systems development and e-learning within HR departments of major Brazilian companies. In parallel, he assisted production in various circus and performing arts festivals.
In 2017, he moved to Portugal to study Circus Arts at INAC (Famalicão) until 2018. From 2018 to 2023, he specialized in executive production, blending his HR experience with circus training. Between 2023 and 2024, he worked as executive producer at INAC, coordinating events such as CÚpula Circus Village Festival and several shows, including “Muda,” co-created with Companhia Clara Andermatt. He now works as executive producer at ERVA DANINHA.
communication and production assistant ELÍSIO MOTA
Holds a degree and master’s in Communication Sciences from the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. He interned as a journalist at O JOGO sports newspaper and later worked in press relations and communication at Futebol Clube do Porto. After an IEFP-supported internship, he joined the company in 2022 as communication and publicity manager and production assistant, supporting logistical operations.
applications and international projects MARIA CARBUNARU
Maria Carbunaru is a Romanian anthropologist, improviser, and adult experiential education trainer. In 2015, she cofounded Education Studio, an alternative education organization in Transylvania, which she led until 2020 when she was selected for The Improvisation School in Calgary, Canada. Due to pandemic-related border closures, she relocated to Portugal, where she continues her creative and cultural sector involvement.
In 2015, her improv-based educational project “ACTitude” was nominated for “Best Educational Project” by the Romanian Youth Awards, and her European project “ConVersations” was selected as a Best Practice by Romania’s National Agency for Adult Education in 2018. Since 2011, she has coordinated international projects under various EU funding lines: Grundtvig, Youth in Action, EVS, Erasmus+, European Funds for Emerging Artists, and Culture Moves Europe. She has collaborated with ERVA DANINHA since 2023.
REGULAR TEAM
photography and video ASHLEIGH GEORGIOU
Studied 3D Art & Design at the University of Creative Arts Canterbury and graduated in 2010 with a BA (Hons) in Interior Design. She completed her MA in Photography at Southampton Solent University.
In 2012, she began working with video. Her photography spans performance, theatre, music, commercial work, and exhibitions. Since moving to Porto in 2015, she has collaborated regularly with ERVA DANINHA, producing video records and promotional materials for all shows, Trengo festival, and Mostra Estufa. She also works with INAC, Radar 360, Mica Parika, among others.
mediation and music composition DAVID VALENTE
Completed his studies at JOBRA conservatory in 2012. He attended the Music Animators Course at Casa da Música and the first year of Percussion at the Lisbon School of Music. Alongside music, he specialized in juggling and object manipulation through workshops with various artists. He founded and is artistic director of Mimo’s Dixie Band and Companhia Quando Saias à Rua, blending music with juggling. He works on multiple intervention projects including Orquestra (in)quieta, Orquestra Toca Acordar, Casa da Música’s Education Service, Music for Chameleons, Loveearth through Art, and TUm TUM TUM under the PARTIS program. He collaborates with ERVA DANINHA on educational and intervention projects and composes music for performances.
lighting PEDRO NABAIS
Graduated in Theatre, specializing in Lighting and Sound, from ESMAE, where he taught until 2022. He works as lighting designer for theatre, dance, and contemporary circus shows with groups such as Estrutura, A Turma, Silent Party, Loup Solitaire, Cooperativa Busca-Pólo, ERVA DANINHA, Teresa Coutinho, and Daniel Seabra. Since 2017, he has served as technical director for Estrutura and A Turma. He frequently collaborates with lighting designer Daniel Worm d’Assunção as assistant and co-creator. He regularly works as a lighting technician for Teatro Nacional São João, Teatro Municipal do Porto, and Serralves Foundation.
press relations JOÃO AREZES
earned his degree in Social Communication from the Porto School of Journalism in 2001.
He completed the Cultural Producers course by Sete Pés/Porto2001. Since 1992, he has contributed regularly to media such as Jornal de Notícias, Público, RTP, and Visão. He participates in various communication projects and currently provides press relations for several organizations and events. He collaborates with ERVA DANINHA through the Trengo festival and Mostra Estufa.
communication design and illustration RUI VITORINO
Holds a PhD in Art and Design (Illustration) from FBAUP, an MA in Art and Multimedia from FBAUP, and a degree in Communication Design from the same institution. He is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto and a member of the Center for Unexpected Media – ID+: University of Porto | University of Aveiro | Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave. He develops curatorial and research projects in illustration and participates in solo and group exhibitions. As an illustrator, he collaborates with various publications and projects, including Serralves, Porto Lazer, Trengo – Porto Circus Festival, Slanted Magazine, and Two Pages Project. He is a founding member of the association and gallery Dama Aflita, dedicated to illustration and drawing in Porto.
