BIOGRAPHY
Rio Katumba is an 18 year old dancer who has been training at Tanz Akademie Zürich for the past six years. During his time at taZ, he has developed a deep connection to both music and ballet one that he will carry with him throughout his career.
- Date of birth: 12 August 2007
- Eye colour: Brown
- Hair colour: Brown
- Height (in cm): 186
- Languages: German, English
CONTACT
- riokatumba@icloud.com
- https://www.instagram.com/_riodance
DANCE EXPERIENCE
2025 taZ - “Curtain Up”, Opernhaus Zürich
- “Défilé” choreography by Àkos Sebestyén
- “Simply Bach” choreography by Altea Nuñez
- “Bolero X” choreography by Shahar Binyamini
2025 House Dance Company, ZHdK dance, Festspielhaus Bregenz
- “Bolero X” choreography by Shahar Binyamini
2024 YAGP Nervi Festival
- “Deca Dance” choreography by Ohad Naharin
- “Grand défilé “ choreography by Larissa Saveliev
2024 taZ - “Curtain Up”, Opernhaus Zürich
- “A Folk Tale, Pas de sept choreography by August Bournonville
- “Only the Window” choreography by Ihsan Rustem
2023 Fussspuren XIX - Tanz Akademie Zürich, Opernhaus Zürich
- “Looking for starlings” choreography by Neel Verdoorn
2022 Fussspuren XVIII - Tanz Akademie Zürich, Opernhaus Zürich
- “Rendez-vous hinter den Kulissen” choreography by Maged Mohamed
2021 Fussspuren XVII - Tanz Akademie Zürich, Opernhaus
- “Und dann und wann eine Lilie weiss” choreography by Àkos Sebestyén
Q&A WITH RIO KATUMBA
What does dance mean to you?
- Dance is my way of expressing who I am without needing words. It allows me to connect deeply with music, channel my emotions, and tell stories through movement. To me, dance is more than an art form it is a passion, a discipline, and an essential part of my identity.
What memory will you take with you from your time at ZHdK?
- I will never forget the first day I stepped into the taZ Studios. Everyone was so unique, and the atmosphere was incredibly professional. From that moment on, I knew I was exactly where I belonged.
Which work or choreographer particularly inspires you, and why?
- My favorite choreographer I have worked with is Ihsan Rustem. He was the first professional choreographer I had the opportunity to work with intensively, and he taught me so much about my body and my artistic personality.