Davi Rodrigues

Davi Rodrigues

Davi Rodrigues is a Brazilian-born Canadian citizen and the Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer of Lamondance. With over 30 years of experience as an educator, choreographer, and producer, Davi is renowned for his high-energy, immersive, and audacious dance style. He brings a unique approach, daring hard work, and a sense of optimism to all his projects.

While in Brazil, Davi studied Physical Education at the Universidade Católica de Brasília (UCB) and danced for five years with Aplauso Cia de Dança under the artistic direction of Junior O’hara. He also studied classical ballet with Heloisa Almeida, a principal dancer at Ballet Theatre Guaira. Davi's talent for creating innovative experiences was evident during his 13 years leading Cia Criatividança, where he directed and choreographed eight full-length productions. His work with the company earned him numerous accolades and took him on tour throughout Brazil.

Since moving to Vancouver in 2008, Davi has been a driving force in the local dance community. He joined Lamondance as a dancer and guest choreographer and, 14 years ago, rose to the position of Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer. Under his leadership, Lamondance Arts Society was incorporated as a charitable organization in 2019, solidifying the company's reputation as a leading training program and professional dance ensemble for emerging artists. Davi is a passionate mentor, focusing on inclusion, equity, and affordability in a non-profit environment, and has connected his dancers with a significant network of artists from Canada and abroad.

Davi's recent choreography for Lamondance includes works such as “IELE,” “How It Ends,” “VIVA,” “Black Feather,” “Before Dawn” (presented at Toronto and Vancouver International Dance Festival 2021), “Behind the Veil,” “Soul Searching,” “Flesh and Blood,” and “Nothing Really Matters.” He has an upcoming work titled “Mortals and Saints.” His choreographies have been performed by prominent Vancouver dance schools, including Arts Umbrella, Pacific DanceArts, Kirkwood Academy of Performance and Arts, Pulse Dance Centre, and RNB Dance & Theatre, and have earned awards from prestigious festivals in Canada and the U.S.

Furthering his commitment to community impact, Davi created the Lamondance and Friends Gala, now in its 14th year, which celebrates the local dance community by uniting schools, training programs, and companies from all over the Lower Mainland. Outside of Lamondance, he has served as a mentor, judge, and choreographer at prestigious dance festivals in Canada, and was a faculty member at the International Dance Seminar in Brasília. He also contributed to Vancouver’s artistic community as a member of the artistic committee for Royal City Youth Ballet.

In recognition of his contributions as a new Canadian, Davi was honored with the 17th Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award by Canadian Immigrant and Western Union. He is also a certified Dare to Lead™ Trained facilitator and holds a certification in Cultural Safety from Len Pierre Consulting. Known for his unique style, generous heart, and optimistic approach, Davi continues to support, educate, and challenge artists, enriching the dance landscape and pursuing artistic excellence.