António Tavares is a choreographer, dancer, researcher, musician, designer and cultural agitator. He is the artistic director of the Mindelo Cultural Center and the cultural space Bombu Mininu, in São Vicente (Cape Verde).
He thinks of his dance within the framework of decolonization and believes that Cape Verde is waiting for a "bodily revolution" to free itself from the chains of colonial times. Considered one of the key figures in the history of contemporary dance, he argues that dance, more than artistic performance, is philosophy, politics and utopia.
He began his career in the city of Mindelo as a dancer in the Mindel Stars group, with which he went on his first international tour in 1986, visiting Holland, Senegal, France and Macau. In 1991, he founded the groups Crêtcheu and Compasso Pilon, researching African dance and, in particular, traditional Cape Verdean dances.
As well as having worked with several Portuguese choreographers, such as Olga Roriz, Aldara Bizarro, Francisco Camacho, Rui Nunes and José Laginha, he has also developed his own creations and produced numerous pieces, among which are Fou-Naná (1997), Danças de Câncer (1999), Opera Crioulo (2002) and Jus Soli (2011).
