Choreography

Mariana Souza

Mariana Souza is a Brazilian artist, choreographer and musical theatre performer living in Berlin. Her artistic training began in Brazil and encompasses music, dance and theatre. After studying at the Conservatório Brasileiro de Música and training in classical ballet, jazz, modern dance and tap, she moved to Germany in 2007 to take part in the Hamburg production of Disney’s »The Lion King«.

This was followed by roles in productions such as »Mary Poppins«, »West Side Story« and »Ragtime«. Since 2013, she has worked regularly at the Komische Oper Berlin, appearing in numerous productions there, including »Chicago«, »Candide«, »Kiss Me, Kate«, »Die Perlen der Cleopatra« and »La Cage aux Folles«. Alongside her work as a performer, she also took on choreographic roles there and developed a distinctive style characterised by a blend of rhythm, musical precision and stage design.

As a choreographer, Mariana Souza works regularly for theatres and opera houses in German-speaking countries. She enjoys a particularly close artistic collaboration with the director Tristan Braun. At the Mainfranken Theatre in Würzburg, she was responsible for the choreography for »Die lustige Witwe« und »Märchen im Grand Hôtel« during the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons. The production of »Märchen im Grand Hôtel« was awarded the »BR-Klassik Operetten-Frosch« in January 2025. Further choreographic work has taken her to the Philharmonie Luxembourg (»Lene fliegt ins Zirkusland«, »Sleeping Beauty«), the Fondation EME (»Popera Project«), the Chemnitz Theatre (»Viktoria und ihr Husar«), the Komödie am Kurfürstendamm in Berlin (»Miss Merkel«), the Berliner Ensemble for »K.« directed by Barrie Kosky, and »Mokka Hits« in artistic collaboration with Axel Ranisch, Adam Benzwi and Christopher Tölle.

Alongside her stage work, Mariana Souza works as a teacher, coach and educator. She has collaborated with, amongst others, the Komische Oper Berlin, the Berliner Ensemble, the Berlin University of the Arts and the Blue Tap Studio Berlin, bringing her many years of international experience in musical theatre, dance and choreography to her teaching, workshops and artistic projects. Since 2023, she has been, together with Fernando Flesch, the initiator and artistic director of the »Brasil Tap Berlin« festival, which promotes international exchange and raises the profile of Brazilian tap dance culture in Germany. In 2026, Mariana Souza was appointed to the jury of the »Berlin Carnival of Cultures«.