Studio Stories: Reminiscing on Twin Cities Dance with Marciano Silva dos Santos - Season 5, Episode 74

A native of Brazil, Marciano Silva dos Santos is recognized by
the American Folkloric
Society as a “Brazilian artist of unique and exceptional ability
and merit.” Silva dos
Santos founded Contempo Physical Dance in 2011 and in the same
year the
StarTribune reported, “Marciano Silva dos Santos is a relatively
fresh face in town. 

He wasted little time in making his mark.” He quickly gained
recognition for his
professional dancing and swiftly made a place for himself in
Minnesota. Marciano has
been named “Best Dancer” by City Pages, “one of the most graceful
movers on any
Twin Cities Stage”by the StarTribune and “one of the hottest
choreographers in town”
by Minnesota Monthly Magazine. He is also bringing global African
diasporic
contemporary dance to Minnesota with international choreography
residencies,
including Nildinha Fonseca from Balé Folclórico da Bahia
(Brazil), Patrick Acogny
from l'Ecole des Sables (Senegal). 

Now in partnership with the Mcknight International Choreographer
Residency program, Contempo Physical Dance is commissioning a
third choreographer to create a new work in 2022. Marciano is a
recipient of a 2020 McKnight Fellowship for Dancers. After years
of dedication as a dancer, teacher and choreographer, Silva dos
Santos received his Master of Fine Arts in Dance at Hollins
University.