CÁSSIO DINIZ SANTIAGO
Performance Artist · Choreographer · Director · Dramaturg · Researcher · Teacher
Born 1973, São Paulo, Brazil · Based in Wuppertal, Germany · cassiodinizsantiago@gmail.com · http://www.cassiodinizsantiago.com
P R O F I L E
Performance artist, choreographer, director, dramaturg, researcher, and teacher with over 25 years of interdisciplinary practice spanning performance, dance, theatre, sound, film, and installation. Work presented internationally in Brazil, Germany, Finland, Sweden, France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, and South Korea. Long-term practice of care-based, community-embedded, and disability-centred artistic work with people with physical and intellectual disabilities, people living with mental health conditions, psychiatric patients, Indigenous communities, and children with disabilities. Committed to anti-ableist, crip-positive, and intersectional approaches to art-making and pedagogy.
E D U C A T I O N
| 2017–2019 | MA Choreography and Performance Institut für Angewandte Theaterwissenschaft, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Germany Studies without final degree completion |
| 1992–1997 | BA Performing Arts Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil |
F E L L O W S H I P S & A W A R D S
| 2025–2026 | Resident Artist Pina Bausch Zentrum (PBZ), Wuppertal, Germany |
| 2022 | European Alliance of Academies Fellowship Germany · Project: Syntax of Care |
| 2021 | Thüringen Cultural Foundation Fellowship Germany |
| 2020 | Werner-Düttmann Fellowship Akademie der Künste, Berlin, Germany |
| 2015–2016 | Resident Fellow – Art, Science and Business Programme Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany Research focus: Performance Art as a tool in the field of Economy |
W O R K S A S D I R E C T O R / D R A M A T U R G / P E R F O R M E R / R E S E A R C H E R / C O M P O S E R ( S E L E C T I O N )
| 2026 | Compassionate Dance Storm Director · Choreographer · Performer Performance Pina Bausch Zentrum, Wuppertal, Germany |
| 2026 | Grammar Director · Dramaturg · Performer Performance · In production · Premiere 2026 Pina Bausch Zentrum, Wuppertal, Germany Project developed since 2021 at Akademie der Künste, Berlin Funded by Fonds Darstellende Künste / NEUSTART KULTUR; co-produced by Pina Bausch Zentrum |
| 2018–2019 | S.C.H.U.U.L.E. Director · Dramaturg · Performer Performance / Theatre / Dance · with Susann Maria Hempel Akademie der Künste, Berlin · Greizer Theaterherbst, Greiz · Wagenhallen Stuttgart, Germany Funded by Aktion Mensch, Akademie der Künste, and Landkreis Greiz |
| 2018 | Krrrchhhck! (by Susann Maria Hempel) Conceptual Cooperation Performance Akademie der Künste, Berlin, Germany |
| 2018 | Lift and Carry Director · Dramaturg · Performer Performance Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany · Faki Festival, Zagreb, Croatia Funded by Akademie Schloss Solitude |
| 2016–2018 | Ashes2Ashes Director · Dramaturg · Performer Performance Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart · Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt, Germany Funded by Akademie Schloss Solitude and Institut für Angewandte Theaterwissenschaft, Gießen |
| 2016 | They Lived and Laughed and Loved and Left Director · Dramaturg · Performer Performance · with Till Wyler von Ballmoos Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany Funded by Akademie Schloss Solitude |
| 2016 | Psicotrópico (by Alvise Camozzi) Dramaturg Theatre Sesc Ipiranga, São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2015–2016 | Quem Agora? Quando Agora? Onde Agora? Dramaturg Dance Funarte / São Paulo, Brazil Förderpreis für Tanz (Dance Award) of the City of São Paulo |
| 2016 | Dentro do Coração Director Theatre · with Mauricio Paroni, Renato Rosati, and Janine Correa Municipal Theatre of Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Brazil Funded by the Cultural Ministry of the City of Vitoria, Brazil |
| 2015 | Calendar Serie Director · Dramaturg · Sound Designer Performance / Dance Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM), São Paulo, Brazil Funded by MAM São Paulo and the Brazilian Ministry of Culture |
| 2014 | Lamina Dramaturg Dance Funarte and Capobianco Institut, São Paulo, Brazil Förderpreis für Tanz (Dance Award) of the City of São Paulo |
| 2013 | Astronomer Performer Performance · with Tero Nauha and Juha Valkeapää Sesc Pinheiros, São Paulo, Brazil Funded by SESCSP, MAM São Paulo, Brazilian Ministry of Culture, Frame Visual Art Finland, Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Theatre Academy Helsinki |
| 2012 | Double of Rossmann Director · Dramaturg Performance Brussels, Belgium |
| 2011 | Kafkamachine, Amerika & Oklahoma Theatre Call Director · Dramaturg · Researcher · Performer Theatre / Performance with Mollekulaarinen Organisation (Finland), Presque Ruines (France), and Ueinzz Theatre Group (Brazil) Casa Conveniente, Lisbon, Portugal · Canarian Islands, Spain · Sesc Santos & Sesc Pinheiros, São Paulo, Brazil Funded by SESCSP, Future Art Base, Aalto University, Art Council of Finland, FRAME, Finnish Doctoral Programme Kataja, Robin Hood Minor Asset Management, and Casa Conveniente Lisbon |
| 2010 | Zona de Risco Dramaturg Performance · with Coletivo Bruto Centro Cultural SP, São Paulo, Brazil Funded by Centro Cultural SP, Brazil |
| 2008–2010 | Finnegans Ueinzz Artistic Director · Director · Dramaturg Theatre / Performance · with Ueinzz Theatre Group International Biennial of São Paulo · Sesc Paulista SP · Sesc Copacabana RJ, Brazil · Baltic Circle International Festival, Helsinki, Finland Funded by SESCSP, Brazilian Ministry of Culture, International Biennial of São Paulo, and Baltic Circle International Festival Helsinki |
| 2007 | Trem Fantasma (by Christoph Schlingensief) Performer · Director of Opening Scene Theatre / Performance Mostra Sesc Circulações, São Paulo, Brazil Funded by SESCSP and Goethe-Institut São Paulo |
| 2001–2006 | Comendador Peçanha Founder · Artistic Director · Director · Dramaturg · Researcher · Sound Designer · Performer Theatre / Dance / Performance · with Zaum Performance Group Biblioteca Mário de Andrade · Tagesklinik Água Funda, São Paulo, Brazil Created in close collaboration with psychiatric patients and people in clinical care settings Funded by the Cultural Ministry of the City of São Paulo, Brazil |
| c. 2003–2006 | Farsas Libertinas · Pornografia Barata · O Engenho da Loucura Actor Theatre · with Atelier de Manufactura Suspeita Direction: Maurício Paroni de Castro · São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2002 | Via de Regra Composer Music Goethe-Institut / Cinemateca, São Paulo, Brazil Funded by Goethe-Institut São Paulo |
| 2001-2002 | Samba do mais Fraco Composer · Performer Music / Performance Galeria Vermelho / C.C. Chico Science / Matrix, São Paulo, Brazil Funded by Galeria Vermelho |
| 1999 | Ventriloquist Actor Theatre · with Dry Opera Company Sesc Vila Mariana, São Paulo, Brazil Funded by SESCSP |
| 1999 | O Livro dos Sonhos (after Jorge Luis Borges) Director · Dramaturg Theatre / Performance Oficina Cultural Grande Otelo, Sorocaba, Brazil Funded by the Cultural Ministry of the State of São Paulo, Brazil |
| 1998–1999 | Dr. Faustus liga a luz (by Gertrude Stein) Performer Performance · Direction: Renato Cohen Centro Cultural São Paulo / Goethe-Institut, São Paulo, Brazil Funded by Centro Cultural SP and Goethe-Institut São Paulo |
| 1997–1998 | KA – Opera Multimedia (by Khlebnikov) Performer · Assistant Director · Composer Performance · Direction: Renato Cohen Museu da Cidade / Brasil-Japan Haus / Compos-Seminar at PUC, São Paulo · International Poetry Festival, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Funded by State University of Campinas and PUC São Paulo |
| 1997 | A Conferência dos Pássaros Actor Theatre Unicamp, Campinas, Brazil Funded by State University of Campinas |
| 1996 | Primeiras Estórias (by João das Neves) Actor Theatre Parque Ecológico de Campinas · International Theatre Festival, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Funded by State University of Campinas |
| c. 1995 | O Sonho (by August Strindberg) Actor Theatre · with Boa Companhia Direction: Verônica Fabrini · Campinas / São Paulo, Brazil |
| c. 1994 | Otelo (by William Shakespeare) Actor Theatre · with Boa Companhia Direction: Verônica Fabrini · Campinas / São Paulo, Brazil |
T E A C H I N G ( S E L E C T I O N )
| 2025-2026 | KuVo – Kultur am Vormittag Teacher · Katholische Grundschule Wichlingshauser Straße, Wuppertal, Germany Programme by KuVo, Wuppertal |
| 2024-2025 | Open Space Workshop · Performance Research · Presentations · Facilitator Pina Bausch Zentrum, Wuppertal, Germany |
| 2018–2019 | Performance and Otherness (BA/MA) Invited Professor · Institut für Angewandte Theaterwissenschaft, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Germany |
| 2016 | Theater and Performance (BA/MA) Invited Professor · Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts, Stockholm, Sweden |
| 2013 | Workshop in Performance Workshop · Uniarts Helsinki – Theatre Academy, Helsinki, Finland |
| 2012–2015 | Performance Art Course Responsible · Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM), São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2011–2017 | Performance and Theater Professor · São Paulo Drama School – Development Centre for Stage Arts, São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2015–2016 | Performance Art Invited Professor · Escola Superior de Artes Célia Helena, Centre for Arts and Education, São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2007–2011 | Programa Teatro Vocacional – Secretaria Municipal de Cultura Artistic-Pedagogic Coordinator · São Paulo, Brazil Large-scale community theatre programme working with marginalised communities across the city |
| 2005 | Theater and Performance Teacher · BMA – Biblioteca Mário de Andrade, São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2002–2004 | Theatre and Performance Teacher · Água Funda Day Hospital / Casa de Cultura Chico Science, São Paulo, Brazil Teaching theatre and performance within psychiatric day hospital and disability community settings |
W O R K S H O P S & S E M I N A R S ( S E L E C T I O N )
| 2015 | Finance as a Place of Creation / Risk Generating Practice Workshop · Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany |
| 2012 | Núcleo de Dramaturgia do SESI – British Council Workshop · São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2011 | Accessible Art Seminar · Oficina Oswald de Andrade, São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2010 | Joseph Beuys International Seminar: Performance and the Expanded Concept of Art Workshop · Sesc Pompéia, São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2010 | Shamanism and Performance / Ueinzz Creative Process Workshop · PAF – Performing Arts Forum, St.Erme, France |
| 2009 | Working Devices of Ueinzz Theatre Company Workshop · Theatre Academy, Helsinki, Finland |
| 2008 | Reading: Genova 01 Reading · Sesc Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2007 | Everyone is an Artist Seminar · II Art Psychology Colloquium, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil |
P U B L I C A T I O N S ( S E L E C T I O N )
| 2023 | Grammar is Politics by Other Means Essay · Junge Akademie, Akademie der Künste, Berlin, Germany |
| 2021 | Untranslatable Terms of Cultural Practices Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany |
| 2016 | Glossary – Finance and Affection (online) Schloss Post / Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany |
| 2015 | Aboard the Kafkamachine (online) Schloss Post / Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany |
| 2015 | Performance and Reinvention of the Self In: Igual Diferente Programme Catalogue · Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo (MAM), Brazil |
| 2012 | The Expanded Concept of Art Vocacional Magazine, No. 1, São Paulo, Brazil |
V I D E O & S O U N D I N S T A L L A T I O N S ( S E L E C T I O N )
| 2020 | Wir werden erst sehen, wenn nichts mehr zu sehen ist Sound Installation · XXIX. Greizer Theaterherbst, Greiz, Germany Dance performance converted into sound installation due to the Covid-19 pandemic |
| 2009 | Sertão no Meio do Redemoinho Video Installation · Cordisburgo and São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2009 | Riverun Video Installation · Nam June Paik Art Center, South Korea |
F I L M ( S E L E C T I O N )
| 2020 | Urlaub in Deutschland Actor · Film project by Theaterhaus Jena / Acteursgroep Wunderbaum, Jena, Germany |
| 2011 | Kafkamachine Director · Dramaturg Filmic experiment based on Kafka’s Amerika, shot on the transatlantic cruise ‘Splendor of the Seas’ from Lisbon (Portugal) to São Paulo (Brazil) |
| 2005 | Crime Delicado (dir. Beto Brant) Performer |
E X H I B I T I O N S ( S E L E C T I O N )
| 2020 | A Kids Headquarters ACC Galerie, Weimar, Germany |
| 2019 | Strike Gently Away Wagenhallen, Stuttgart, Germany |
| 2016 | Artist is online Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany |
| 2015 | In Transit Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany |
| 2015 | ROMER Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany |
| 2015 | Dancing Museum Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2010 | 29th São Paulo Art Biennial São Paulo, Brazil |
C U R A T I O N & C O – O R G A N I S A T I O N
| 2011 | Kafkamachine Co-organiser and Curator · Multidisciplinary Art Project · Transatlantic filmic experiment and live event |
| 2010–2012 | FinLaLaLa Co-organiser and Curator · Multidisciplinary Art Project · Finland–Brazil cultural exchange platform |
L A N G U A G E S
| Native Portuguese · Professional German (B1) · English (C1) · Conversational Spanish |
http://www.cassiodinizsantiago.com · cassiodinizsantiago@gmail.com · Wuppertal, Germany
Cássio Diniz Santiago 