Body-Ecology Lab

Since Summer 2024, I have been an active member of the Body-Ecology Lab (BEL) at Teachers College, Columbia University, where I contribute as an artist and educator. My work with the lab began through Dr. O’s course and evolved into a deeper collaboration exploring ecological and embodied ways of knowing through theater. I designed the BEL logo, reflecting the lab’s mission to bridge body, land, and story through creative research.

My current focus lies in developing an ecological theater workshop that reimagines our relationship with land through performance, and contributing to BEL’s Brazil project, where I bring a transnational lens to education, embodiment, and spiritual ecology, rooted in my own journey between Brazil and the U.S.

More info: https://www.bodyecolab.com/

Spirituality at TC - Student Organization

For the 24-25 school year, I was an active member and volunteer with Spirituality at TC, a student-led organization at Teachers College, Columbia University, dedicated to cultivating holistic well-being through the integration of spiritual practices, contemplative inquiry, and community care.

My involvement with the club includes:

  • Co-facilitating gatherings and events focused on mindfulness, embodiment, and self-inquiry.

  • Supporting the planning of student wellness initiatives rooted in compassion and presence.

  • Leading arts-based reflections and activities that invite participants to explore identity, purpose, and inner landscapes

  • Managed media and communications for the club, including engaging with members, designing content, and maintaining the Spirituality at TC Instagram account to promote events, reflections, and community updates.

Being part of this community has offered me a sacred space for integration—blending my interests in education, spirituality, and the arts while connecting with others on a shared journey of meaning-making and transformation. It has also influenced my research and teaching practices, encouraging me to honor the inner lives of both children and adults.

Indian International Model United Nations Brazil

In 2018, the São Paulo State School João Amós Comenius took part in the India International Model United Nations (IIMUN)—an educational initiative simulating the United Nations. The program aimed to engage students in reflecting on the complexity of global issues, participating in structured debates, and exploring diplomatic solutions to international conflicts. Classes were led by interns from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supervised by diplomats, providing students with foundational knowledge of international systems, diplomacy, and the workings of the UN.

For the final ceremony, I was invited by the school to create a choreography with the students that represented Brazil. Over the course of a month, I guided them through a collaborative creative process, offering basic dance instruction while encouraging their own expression and ideas.

Together, we developed a piece inspired by the four elements of nature and their relationship with Brazil. Air allowed us to celebrate the beauty of birds, but also carried destructive winds. Water flowed through our beaches and waterfalls, and flooded our cities. Earth formed our landscapes, mountains, and architecture, yet it also triggered landslides. Fire brought warmth and tropical vibrancy—but also symbolized destruction, as in the tragic burning of the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro in 2018.

As the students danced, images of nature and disaster were projected onto their bodies, creating a powerful and poetic representation of the dualities within our environment—and our country.