Joao Maio

João Maio is an independent dance artist and creative producer based in Leeds, engaged as Creative Producer for Linden Dance Company.

João trained at Balleteatro Professional School, Porto (2009-12) and at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance (2012-15), danced with companies as DeNada Dance Theatre, Rosie Kay Dance Company and Lizzie J Klotz and performed in festivals as Birmingham International Dance Festival, Manchester International Festival and Internationale Tanzmesse. 

He worked as rehearsal director in Gracefool Collective’s “This is not a wedding” and Phoebe Ophelia’s “Betty Brown Bags”.

After completing the MA in Dance & Creative Enterprise at NSCD (2018), João began to work as a Creative Producer independently and for Leeds-based community development organisation Open Source Arts. Since, he has supported artists such as Akeim Toussaint Buck, Crystal Zillwood, Gracefool Collective, Marianne Tuckman, Phoebe Ophelia and Linden Dance Company.

João continues to further his understanding of the national artistic ecology and to collaborate with creatives to deliver projects that enhance it. He has led several independent sector development activities in Leeds via his roles as Independent Board Member at Leeds Dance Partnership and co-Director at ProDance Leeds. Joao is the Artist Development Producer at Yorkshire Dance (Leeds).