About Raúl Saldarriaga

Since childhood, dance has been a natural extension of play for me, a way to continue exploring and creating even into adulthood. I firmly believe that improvisation is an adventure into the unknown, where each movement is an opportunity to discover and creatively resolve challenges. I love all forms of improvisation, whether in dance, theater, or music, for the freedom and playfulness they offer.

One of the most meaningful moments for me is when, in the middle of a class, a communication channel opens between what I want to transmit and what the participants understand. Seeing how an idea or movement resonates and transforms someone's way of dancing is deeply rewarding.

My approach to dance has evolved through constant exploration of performance and improvisation. I'm passionate about inhabiting the present and being open to change, finding different games and sources of inspiration that enrich my artistic approach. I love exploring paths that intersect with different images, arts, and disciplines, creating a space where dance becomes a universal language.

Raúl Saldarriaga, an artistic researcher, performer, and choreographer, leads Amsterdam's “Casagrafia” movement collective. He holds two bachelors, BA in Art Pedagogy, and other one inContemporary Dance, an MA in Interactive Media and Choreography (Hanze University, NL), and an MA in Choreography and Community (CODARTS University and FONTYS University). With a decade of experience teaching Contact Improvisation in the Netherlands and worldwide, he has been invited to teach at CI Festival Asturias, CI Festival Sintra, and CI Festival Netherlands for the last 4 editions. Currently, he explores playfulness in adulthood through Contact Improvisation while teaching at Vrijehogeschool.