Paola Vasconcelos is a dancer, teacher and researcher of Latin American ballroom dances. She holds a PhD in Performing Arts from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (RJ/BR), a Master's Degree in Performing Arts and a Degree in Dance from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (RS/BR). She has been teaching queer ballroom dance workshops and organizing queer dances since 2015. Her artistic and pedagogical research focuses on ballroom dancing from a contemporary perspective, problematizing cis-heteronormativity in these practices. She proposes queer and decolonial strategies for teaching and creating ballroom dance performances. Collaborating researcher at the Center for Theater Studies at the University of Lisbon.

About the Queer Social Dancing Classes (see the AND Lab Space permanent programming)

Queer Social Dancing is a proposal for a dance workshop for two that aims to break with the heteronormative patterns of "Gentleman" and "Lady" present in traditional Latin American social dancing. Creating an open and safe space to explore the possibilities of dialog in social dances, regardless of the gender and sexual orientation of the participants. Initiations will be given in the following dances: forró, samba de gafieira, tango and salsa. In this approach, bodies and bodies are encouraged to develop conducting skills, guiding or being guided, as well as developing strategies for sharing this responsibility during the dance.  This teaching methodology has been developed by Paola Vasconcelos since 2015, who dedicates her research and practice to teaching and creation strategies through a queer and decolonial approach to ballroom dancing. No previous dance experience is necessary to take part in the meetings.

Fazer Comum ['Do Common'] is a housing program by Espaço AND Lab, in Lisbon, whose main objective is to contribute to the dynamization of the artistic and cultural fabric of Lisbon, providing space for work, dialogue, meeting, research and sharing of practices within the scope of work AND Lab - Art, Politics, Community. Extensive (self)care and expression-creation practices are welcomed, such as regular classes/sessions, specific workshops and artistic residencies. There is also space for event proposals such as study groups, book launches, conferences and lectures, meetings and gatherings, exhibitions and informal presentations, etc.