JORGE ALBERTO TOVAR

     Choreographer, Professional Dance Instructor, Professional Dancer

       Born 25 April 1963 in Bogotá, Colombia

He studied social and cultural anthropology at the National University of Colombia dedicating most of his time studying the traditional dances, folklore and indigenous groups in his country.

In 1984 he started studying classic and neoclassic ballet with Colombian and American professional instructors. In 1987 he became a dancer with the Colombian Ballet Company of the Teatro Colon in Bogotá, Colombia, under the Artistic Director Christopher Fleming.

From 1988 until 1995 he studied the different techniques of modern and contemporary dance like Graham, Cunningham, Humphrey and Afro-modern. While exploring these techniques he decided to dedicate himself to contemporary dance and composition and improvisation techniques with professional instructors of current dance (Micha van Hoecker, Ed Kordtlandt, Tjitske Broersma, David Zambrano, Marianella Boan, Carlos Jaramillo).

Through his personal studies and investigations regarding the traditional dances of different indigenous groups in South America he has created his own style called Etnicontemporary which translates the fusion between the indigenous rituals and the esthetic of contemporary dance.

In 1990 he grounded his own independent dance company “Zajana Danza” of which he is the director and choreographer. In 1995 he received the National Prize of Excellence Colcultura for best created choreography “Manduco y Lavar”.

As a professional dancer he has been participating in festivals, events, musicals, theatre, television commercials and different dance companies in Colombia and abroad.

As a professional instructor he has taught contemporary dance in different universities, theatres and schools in Colombia as well as trained professional dancers and actors. In 2002 he grounded his own dance school “Zajana” in Bogotá, Colombia.

Currently he is residing in Ankara, Turkey and is giving workshops and teaching composition and improvisation techniques, training and composing choreographies.

Jorge Tovar is a permanent investigator and creator of his dance. His choreographies are instruments to reflect the profound conflicts of humans, races and spiritualism of societies in turmoil.

Should your require Jorge Tovar's detailed curriculum vitae, please write to info@jorgetovar.com