Victor Hugo Pontes Born in 1978 in Guimarães, Portugal. BA in Fine Arts & Painting by Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade do Porto (Oporto University, Fine Arts School). Norwich School of Arts & Design in Norwich, UK, 2001. Drama courses at Balleteatro Escola Profissional and Teatro Universitário do Porto. Choreographical Research and Creation course at Forum Dança, Lisbon, 2003. Theatre Direction course, directed by Third Angel at Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, 2004. “Projet Thierry Salmon” La Nouvelle École des Maîtres, directed by Pippo Delbono, Belgium and Italy, 2006.
As a performer, worked with Moncho Rodriguez, Joclécio Azevedo, João Garcia Miguel, Nuno Carinhas, João Paulo Costa, Ana Luísa Guimarães, Lígia Pape, Jack Souvant, Isabel Barros, Mário Afonso, Clara Andermatt, Charlie Degot, David Lescot, Joana Craveiro, among others.
As a director and choreographer, created Puzzle (Festival da Fábrica / 2003), Voz Off - «Voice Off» (NEC – Quadros de Dança / 2003), Laboratório - «Laboratory» (Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian / 2005), 100 Palavras - «100 Words» (co-created with Wilma Moutinho, NEC – Inter.faces / 2005), Ícones - «Icons» (2006), Voyeur (NEC – Quadros de Dança / 2006), Fotomontagem - «Photomontage» (NEC / 2006), Ensaio - «Rehearsal» (Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian / 2007), Manual de Instruções - «Instructions Manual» (CCVF / NEC / O Espaço do Tempo / 2009) e Vice-Versa (Teatro Maria Matos / CCVF / Teatro Viriato / Teatro do Campo Alegre / NEC / 2010), Rendez-vous, a new production by O Espaço do Tempo (Portugal) / Uzès Danse (France) / TanzWerkstaat Berlin (Germany), T3+1 (Ao Cabo Teatro/TNSJ/2010) Fuga Sem Fim (Companhia Instável/2011), A Ballet Story (Guimarães Capital da Cultura 2012/Nome Próprio/2012), A Íntima Farsa by JP Simões (São Luiz Teatro Municipal/2012) and A Strange Land (Nome Próprio / Ao Cabo Teatro / Guimarães Capital da Cultura 2012 / 2012) .
As assistant director, worked with Nuno Cardoso in: Woyzeck, by Georg Buchner (2005); Plasticina, by Vassili Sigarev (2006), Platónov, by Anton Tchékhov (2008), all produced by Teatro Nacional S. João (Oporto National Theatre); Richard II e R2, by William Shakespeare, produced by Teatro Nacional D. Maria II (Lisbon National Theatre / 2007); The Good Person of Szechuan, by Bertolt Brecht, produced by Centro Dramático Galego / Spain / 2008; Menagerie du Verre, by Tennessee Williams, produced by Ao Cabo Teatro / 2009; The Seagull by Anton Tchékhov (TNSJ / Ao Cabo Teatro 2010); Long Day`s Journey into Night by Eugene O`Neill (Teatro Experimental do Porto); Three Sisters by Anton Tchékhov (Lisbon National Theatre/211); Desire under the elms by Eugene O`neil (Ao Cabo Teatro / 2011); Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare (Ao Cabo Teatro / 2012); Porto S. Bento (Ao Cabo Teatro /2012); The Visit of the Old Lady by Friedrich Durrenmatt (Ao Cabo Teatro / Companhia Maior / CCVF / São Luiz Teatro Municipal / 2013);
Since 2005 works as set up designer for the pop/rock music band Clã. In 2008 directed, with Helder Gonçalves, the videoclip Amuo, for the same band, and in 2009 directed the concert/show Barbie Suzie Dolly Polly Pocket, at Teatro Nacional S. João.
Since 2003 is regular teacher at the Theatre and Dance Graduation Course, Balleteatro Escola Profissional (Porto).
Between 2003 and 2006 was selected as «Young Talent» in Portugal, at the contest Jovens Criadores («Young Artists»). In 2005 represented Portugal at Repérages – Rencontres Internationales de la Jeune Choréographie, Lille, France. In 2007 was awarded the first prize, with the dance piece Ícones - «Icons», by No Ballet – 2nd International Choreography Competition Ludwigshafen, Germany. In 2008 represented Portugal at the Europe and Mediterranean Young Artists Bienal, Bari, Italy.
Was selected by Intradance Project to direct the Russian company Liquid Theatre, in a show called Far Away From Here. in May 2010, in Moscow.
Works as a performer, choreographer, theatre director, teacher, set designer, his work was been presented in Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Austria, Russia, Belgium, Italy, among other countries.
Since 2009 is the artistic director of Nome Próprio – Associação Cultural.