Marco da Silva Ferreira will open a new creation at the Lyon Opera Ballet

O announcement was made by the two french institutions on social network Instagram, in the framework of a new artistic association project promoted by Pôle Danse de Lyon, structure that brings together Maison de la Danse and Biennale de la Danse, inviting four choreographers for three seasons.

The initiative is part of the artistic project developed by Portuguese programmer Tiago Guedes, director of Maison de la Danse de Lyon and the Lyon Dance Biennale since 2022.

Along with Greek choreographer Katerina Andreou, French choreographer Dalila Belaza and Greek choreographer Christos Papadopoulos, Marco da Silva Ferreira will integrate artistic residences, creation processes, repertoire presentation at Maison de la Danse and Biennale de la Danse, training actions aimed at professional dancers, artistic practice workshops and participatory projects aimed at the community, according to the organization.

The project aims to strengthen the presence of invited artists in the territory through a continuous follow-up, providing financial, technical and human support for the development of their creations and encouraging dialogue between artists, institutions and publics, indicate the two entities in their respective sites.

Marco da Silva Ferreira, one of the Portuguese choreographers with the highest international projection, has led throughout the year to its creation “The Folia”, which premiered in 2022, with presentations in the United Kingdom, Austria, Spain, Slovenia and France.

Inspired by a 15th-century Portuguese social phenomenon associated with dance, music and popular rituals, the work establishes a meeting between this historical tradition and contemporary choreographic languages.

The most recent creation of the choreographer, “F*cking Future”, was presented in Portugal at the end of 2025, in Lisbon and Porto, and later integrated the programming of the Chaillot National Theatre in Paris.

In January this year, Marco da Silva Ferreira was awarded the Chanel Next 2026 Award, worth 100,000 euros, awarded by the French brand to ten international creators recognized for innovation in their respective artistic disciplines.

Born in Santa Maria da Feira, in 1986, he graduated in Physiotherapy from the Piaget Institute in Vila Nova de Gaia, before orienting his course to contemporary dance.

After a course in high-competition swimming, the first edition of the television program “Do you think you know how to dance?”, starting an international career as an interpreter and choreographer since then.

As an interpreter he worked, among others, with André Mesquita, Hofesh Shechter, Sylvia Rijmer, Tiago Guedes, Victor Hugo Pontes, Paulo Ribeiro and David Marques.

In 2025, its creation “Carcaça”, distinguished in 2023 by the Portuguese Society of Authors with the Award for Best Choreography, held an international tour that passed through France, Japan, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and Australia.