Cristina Planas Leitão (1983, Porto - Portugal) Graduated in Dance Performance from Artez – Arnhem Dansacademie, in Holland in 2006. Since then and until end of 2011 she worked as dancer, choreographic assistant and rehearsal director for the Italian/ Dutch based choreographer Gabriella Maiorino and Dansmakers Amsterdam. In 2008, received the 3rd choreography prize with the solo Skinned, in Estonia, given by Wim Vandekeybus and Teet Kask. In 2009, received the prestigious DanceWEB scholarship within the frame of Impulstanz Festival, Vienna (AT), having as mentors Philipp Gehmacher and Christine de Smedt. In 2010, was invited to participate in the project “50 days in Costa Rica” with David Zambrano, where she acquired the necessary qualifications to teach the techniques of "Flying Low" and "Passing Through”, being supported by the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian – PT, being currently part of 50collective. Since then has been teaching regularly at: ArtEZ Arnhem (NL), Codarts Rotterdam (NL), Dansateliers Rotterdam (NL), Marameo Berlin (DE), Danstraining Brabant (NL), K3 Hamburg (DE), Henny Jurriens Foundation (NL), Escola de Dança Ginasiano (PT), Balleteatro (PT), etc. She is currently the rehearsal director for Shelters - Hofesh Shechter’s programme created in 2012 for Companhia Instável (PT) and initiated the monthly artistic meetings desNORTE in Porto. In 2011/ 12 participates in all residencies of Jasmina Krizaj’s Modul Dance project as invited researcher. Together with Jasmina Krizaj has established CJ, creating their first work together entitled The Very Delicious Piece, which toured in Slovenia, The Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, Austria and England, at The Place and is now starting the research for their next creation The Very Boring Piece, supported by Dansateliers Rotterdam, Hellerau - Dresden, O Espaço do Tempo, among others. In September 2013 she joins bcn – ballet contemporâneo do norte for the creation of NIL-CITY by Flávio Rodrigues. Since 2012 is an Associated Artist to Companhia Instável, Porto (PT) and artistic advisor to the direction.
