About
Telmo Branco is a Portuguese artist and activist based in Marseille and Berlin.
His performance work encompasses theater, contemporary dance, sound design, and documentary film. It investigates the subconscious layers of hereditary oppression in the construction of cultural identities. Telmo explores historical accountability as a political act of liberation, while defying gender dogmas and conventions.
In his work, Telmo utilizes psychoanalysis as a dramaturgical tool to investigate normalized violence within the social and family unite.
Telmo’s work fuses autobiography and fictionary poetry.
Artistic Exploration
TRAINING
21/09/2009 - 29/06/2010: Performance Art Training
Course of Performing Arts, University of Évora. Evora. Portugal.
27/09/2010 - 31/07/2012: Drama Theater Training
School of Theater and Film (Higher Education Degree) Acting. Lisbon, Portugal.
01/10/2012 - 13/06/2013: Physical Theater Training
School of Dramatic Art Valencia. Spain.
2013 - 2016: Circus and Contemporary Dance Training
Stella Polaris Sandfjord, Norway; Mamen Garcia Valencia, Spain; Teatro De La Generalitat, Valencia, Spain; Marameo E.V Berlin.
Dance Workshops (2015/ - ): Les Slovaks, Shang-Chi Sun, Mila Koistinen, Christina Mertzani, Narendra Patil, Michael Loehr, Edivaldo Ernesto, Evangelous Poulinas, Narendra Patil, Michael Langeneckert, Ricardo Ambrosio, etc,.
2021: Production Studies - Berlin Art Clinic.
Short Bio (inquire artist for extensive CV)
Performing arts
Telmo Branco's work delves into the topics of sexual identity, hereditary oppression, and liberatory politics and practices. Telmo intersects interdisciplinary performaning art and psychoanalytical tools in the making of his works.
His latest co-creative work, "Anticonfessional: Mistrial" (2025), of the authorship of Ren Mauney, dealt with the topics of otherness and state assimilation. It was funded by THE MAP FUND and hosted by Culture Mill (Saxapahaw, USA) and The Fruit (Durham, USA).
His latest creational work, "FLÓBÉR" (2024/2025), addressed the symbiotic relation between family and nation states in the proliferation of dictatorial and colonial practices. It was funded by República Portuguesa - Cultura / Direção-Geral das Artes and Comissão Comemorativa 50 anos 25 de Abril, Support Fundação GDA and DISTANZEN Solo - Dachverband Tanz Deutschland und NEUSTARTKULTUR
His solo work "The Unspeakable - Part 3" (2023), addressed the topics of homophobia and sexual violence, was funded by Dachverband Tanz Deutschland und NEUSTARTKULTUR; Direção-Geral das Artes; and GDA Foundation.
His work " The Tradition" (2021), self-funded, was the winner of the "Air Scope Berlin" award.
His film " The Tradition - The Film" (2020/2021) received honorary mentions at the festivals: Make art no fear (PT); MIFA - Madeira International Film Awards (PT); Multiplié Dance Film (NO); and Europe NOW Film Festival (UK).
Beside his own work, Telmo has collaborated with the following artists: Veronica Riz (IT), Helena Waldmann (DE), Nir de Wolff (IL) , Annelie Andre (AT), Alexandra Pirici (RO), Falk Richter (DE), Lea Pitschke (DE), Shang-Chi Sun (TW), Ximo Flores (ES), among others.
Teaching
2018/2020, Berlin: Tanzbasis - dance, theater and acrobatics (professionals and non professionals).
2018/2020, Berlin: SV Tora Berlin eV - dance, theater and acrobatics - (non professionals)
2018/2020, Berlin: Dock 11 Berlin - dance, theater and acrobatics - (professionals and non professionals)
2023/2024, Lisbon: Goethe-Institut Lisboa - community based workshops
Collaborative activism
2021/2022
Berlin:
QueerBerg - Colective;
Rainbowrailroad (through Ren Mauney);
QueerTransLiberation.
2022/2024
Lisboa:
Panteras Rosa;
As DEsaFiantes - Anti-ableist feminist collective.
VideoReel
Examining colonial education through performance, sound, and film.
