Photo by James C. Kling

Barbara Lima is a Brazilian-born performer, choreographer, and film artist based in Oregon. She won Best Actress at the Direct Monthly Online Film Festival for Mother/Other (2024), performed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Opening Ceremony, and has danced at venues including Théâtre de la Ville in Paris and Kunsten Festival des Arts in Belgium. A University of Oregon faculty member and founding director of ELa FaLa Collective, she has taught and performed in over 10 countries. Her work lives at the intersection of movement, identity, and the immigrant experience — on stage, on screen, and in the room.

Works & Awards

  • Vancouver Arts Academy (USA) | IYLC International Youth Leadership Conference (USA) | University of Oregon (USA) | Featured Artist at ACDA Northwest Regional Conference 2022 (USA) | Reed College (USA) | Western Washington University (USA) | University of Montana (USA) | Danca Em Trânsito (BRA)

    • University of Oregon Faculty member 23’/current.

  • Theatre de la Ville à Paris (FRA) | Lead Dancer at Olympic Opening Ceremony (BRA) 16’ | WOD - World of Dance (ARG) | Danse a Lille (FRA) | Hellerau (GER) | Kunsten Festival des Arts (BEL) | Pact Zollverein (GER) | Municipal Theater- RJ (BRA) | Teatro Alpha - SP (BRA) | Wiener Festwochen (AUS) | TANZ In August (GER) | Ruhrtriennale (GER) | Kampnagel (GER) | CEntQuatre (FRA) | LA Comedie  (FRA) | Bienal de Lyon (FRA) | Danse a Lille (FRA) | Danca Em Trânsito (BRA) | Reperages - Le Gymnase|Centre de Développement Chorégraphique (FRA) | Interplay/Mosaico Danza (ITA) | Polaris Dance Theatre (USA) | New Expressive Works (USA)

  • Believe The Beat

    Follow Barbara Lima as one of the featured dancers in the decade-long documentary about the artistic growth of a crew of talented Brazilian street dancers in the iconic city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This film has been screened at Hip Hop Film Festival , Oregon Independent Film Festival, Portland Film Festival, Latin American Film Festival, Vancouver Arts Academy and Rio Hip Hop Kemp.

  • Best actress for “Mother/Other” (HDDNW) at the Direct Monthly Online Film Festival 24

Work With Barbara

  • Guest Artist & Teacher

    Learn more about the work Barbara has been creating in Universities and Schools across the U.S.

    Click Here

  • Commissioned Work

    ​​A collaborative experience that creates a blend of cultural exchange, real talk, raw creativity and performance.

    Find Out More

  • Performance

    What if performance wasn’t about perfection, but an offer to presence and connection through truth? Want to witness our work?

    Click Here

My UNprecious Practice

Barbara debuts her first experiment merging movement, video, voice, improvisation and performance — a multidimensional exploration of expression. Watch the new piece, subscribe to her channel, and join the conversation.