Olga Tragant, choreographer-dancer-teacher, born and currently living in Barcelona.

STUDIES

She has a bachelors degree in Physical Education (INEF) from the University of Barcelona (1983 - 88). Thanks to a Fulbright/”La Caixa” scholarship, she got a Master’s degree in Contemporary Dance (M.F.A) and a Masters in Psychology for Physical Activity (M.S) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (1988-1993). She lifed in New York (1993-95) where she studied at several dance schools (The Movement Research, Susan Klein School, Trisha Brown School). She has pursued furthertraining in Amsterdam at the School for New Dance Development (SNDO) (1997) and in Japan (2002).

Her studies include the areas of pedagogy, psychology, sociology, aesthetics and anatomy among others. She has studied various contemporary dance techniques: Limon, Cunningham and Release (Jeremy Nelson, Wally Cardona, Irene Hultman, Bebee Miller, Trisha Brown dancers, Nicki Castro, David Zambrano), and has received extensive trainning in improvisation (Stephen Koester, Cathie Caraker, Danny Lepkof, Dieter Heitkamp, Julyen Hamilton, Andrew Harwood) and composition (Renée Wadleigh, Bessie Schönberg, Susan Rethorst). She studied and performed with various Butoh companies (Sankai Juku, Dairakudakan, Kazuo Onho, Mitsuyo Vesugi).

She has alternated dance with body work studies: sensory awareness, (Louise Boedeker, Christa Saddler), alexandre technique (Rebecca Nettl-Fiol), Susan Klein technique (Barbara Malher), diafrotherapy (Raquel Felsenstein), skinner releasing technique (Didi Dorvillier) and movement anathomy (Blandine Calais-Germain).


PRICES AND GRANTS


Grant for research and creation | 2006
Entitat Autònoma de difusió cultura, Catalonia Generalitat

Ministery of Culture | 2002
Grant to follow studies in a foreign country: studies of butoh dance, in Japan


Ministery of  Culture | 1997
Grant for continuing studies at a foreing country: School SNDO, Amsterdam

Illinois University (Dance Department), Universitat de Illinois, Urbana, IL. | 1992-93
Fellowship for creative work  (Creative and Performing Arts Fellowship)

Illinois Universitay, Urbana, IL. | 1993
Price as  “Teacher Ranked Excellent by their students”
The trio ‘As I leave to get closer’ selected to represent the University of Illinois in the ACDFA Festivals | 1993

Fulbright / La Caixa, Barcelona | 1988 – 1990
Grant to study a Masters in the USA

as a dancer 

While living in Illinois she is part of the  Illinois Dance Theater Co., dancing works  by  Douglas Nielsen, Douglas Dunn, Bebee Miller i Renée Wadleigh among others. In  NewYork she dances for various companyies and cindependent horeographers: Sally Gross, Ann Carlson, Meg Wolfe i Rosa Mei. In Amsterdam she dances in a project by  Eileen Standley. In Japan she works and performs with   Dairakudakan company and with members of  Sankai Juku.

as teacher 

She has taught at the University of Illinois, at the University in Barcelona (INEF), and at the University Politécnica and in various dance centers. She has taught contemporary dance, creative movement, improvisation, composition, conscious and body expression to groups of professionals and amateurs, children, elderly, and persons with psychological discapacities. she has also collaborated and taught at the Barcelona Osteopay School ofering workshops of movement and body awareness.  From the year 2002 she focus her teaching work at l'espai tragantDansa and continues collaborating with other centers and professionals.