What is the AZA Dance Program?
The AZA Dance Program is a 10-month pre-professional training program (October to July), based in Cascais, Portugal. It is designed to support dancers in their transition from academic training into the professional dance world.
Who directs the program?
The program is directed by Inês Pedruco, artistic director and choreographer, who leads the artistic vision and development of the dancers.
Who can apply?
The program is aimed at dancers who are finishing or have completed their formal training and are looking for a bridge into the professional field.
All participants are selected through an audition process.
How is the program structured?
Training runs from Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 16:30.
Each day includes technical classes such as contemporary technique, classical ballet, improvisation, Gaga-based practices, and physical conditioning, followed by contemporary work and choreographic creation.
What kind of experiences will dancers have?
Throughout the program, dancers have access to:
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Monthly guest artists (2–3 national and international professionals)
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Artistic residencies with national companies
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Public performances
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Workshops, masterclasses, and lectures
These experiences are designed to place dancers in a real professional context
Is there a focus on choreographic creation?
Yes. Creation is a central part of the program.
Dancers participate in residencies, develop work with the artistic director, and collaborate with invited choreographers, gaining both studio and stage experience.
How does the program support professional development?
Dancers receive dedicated support for auditions, including:
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Solo creation
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Video materials
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Portfolio development
They are encouraged to actively audition and engage with the professional dance field.
Is the program flexible?
Yes. We understand that professional opportunities can arise at any time, so dancers are free to leave the program if they secure a professional contract.
What happens at the end of the program?
At the end of the program, dancers present their work to choreographers, company directors, and artistic leaders, creating opportunities for professional integration.
Where is the program based?
The program takes place in Cascais, Portugal, offering a focused and inspiring environment for artistic development.
What is the main goal of the program?
The main goal is to empower dancers with the tools, experience, and confidence needed to successfully enter the professional dance world.
Is there a scholarship available?
Yes. For the first time, the AZA Dance Program will offer a partial scholarship to one selected dancer.
This scholarship will cover part of the monthly fee and will be awarded based on the audition process.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
INÊS PEDRUCO
Inês Pedruco is a choreographer, performer, teacher, and Artistic Director, founder of AZA Dance Program, a project designed as a bridge between academic training and the professional dance world.
She is also the founder of GROU.dancewear (2026), a dancewear brand dedicated to dancers, reflecting her ongoing connection between artistic practice, identity, and functionality in the moving body.
Her artistic work is characterized by a sensitive and conceptual approach, exploring the relationship between movement, emotion, and the invisible states of the body, often through collaborative processes and improvisation-based practices.
Recent Projects and Activity
As Artistic Director of AZA Dance Program, she leads a space for artistic creation and development based in Cascais, also engaging in pedagogical direction.
Among her most recent projects, she was invited as a creator to collaborate with the Lisbon Red Cross, with a premiere scheduled for September 2026.
She was also a guest choreographer for the Artistic Residency of Festival do Forte (Cascais, 2025), for the 35th anniversary of Companhia de Dança de Almada, and a creator for the official celebrations of October 5th at the Portuguese Parliament.
Alongside her creative work, she maintains an active role as a jury member in specialized artistic education examinations and in national and international dance competitions.
Choreographic Work
Her choreographic repertoire includes:
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inVersion (AZA Dance Program, 2026)
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The ROOT (Companhia de Dança de Almada, 2025)
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The Assembly (Festival do Forte, 2025; Portuguese Parliament)
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Shimmers (AZA Dance Program, 2025)
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Colorless Echo (Motus Dance Project, 2023)
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emocionalmente estranhos (Escola Superior de Dança, 2023)
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Crisálida (AnimaBallet, 2022/2024)
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ShortCut (Companhia de Dança de Almada, 2023)
Performer
As a performer, she was a member of Quorum Ballet (2009–2014) and Teatromosca (2014–2015), and later worked as a freelance performer with Vortice Dance Company (2016).
She participated in the research project A BlackBox Arts & Cognition, led by choreographer Sylvia Rijmer in collaboration with the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
In 2016, she was invited to take part in Nous – Inner Perception and worked as a rehearsal director, restaging Swan Lake, both by choreographer Daniel Cardoso.
Between 2017 and 2019, she worked as a teacher and rehearsal director on works by Rui Lopes Graça, Olga Roriz, and Miguel Ramalho, among others.
In 2024, she collaborated again with Sylvia Rijmer within the BL Method research and performed La Passion de Simonewith the Real Filharmonía de Galicia under the direction of Joana Carneiro.
Teaching and Jury
She has taught at several institutions, including Escola Superior de Dança (2018–2023), Ana Manjericão Dance School (2019–2020), the Artistic School of the National Conservatory (2017–2019), Setúbal Dance Academy (2016–2018), Centro Norton de Matos (2016–2018), and the Conservatory of Music and Dance of Coimbra (2016–2017).
She is regularly invited as a jury member for dance competitions and artistic education assessments, including Art Without Borders (2023, 2025, 2026), Dança Alhandra (2025), Theatro Circo Municipal Competition (2024), Dançarte (2022) and Dance World Cup (2010).
Academic Background
She is currently a PhD candidate in Human Kinetics (Dance) at the Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, and holds a Master’s degree in Dance Teaching from Escola Superior de Dança.
She graduated with a Professional Dance Diploma from the National Conservatory Dance School and holds certifications from the Royal Ballet School, complemented by training with international artists such as Sharon Eyal, Yin Yue, and La Veronal.
Distinctions
She was a semi-finalist at the Prix de Lausanne, receiving a scholarship to attend the Joffrey Ballet School in New York.