Colectivo Priekopník Veverička (in Slovak: Pioneer Squirrels) was founded in 2015 by the Slovak Lívia Balážová MM and the Costa Rican Zebastián Méndez Marín, as a result of an inescapable artistic connection that began with Última Vez, a mythical company directed by Wim Vandekybus.

With the production of La Plancha (2019) the team grows by incorporating Rafa Ávalos and Vivian Rodríguez, professionals in the areas of production and communication, respectively.

We are an international collective oriented towards creation and learning. Based on our own language, we develop open source methodologies to access new and powerful forms of expression based on the celebration of diversity and cultural integration.

We model innovative alternatives for creative processes based on the game as an engine to break stereotypical visions of performers and spectators in the scenic event, pushing the limits of creation, leaving aside academic labels and putting empathy, respect and consensus first.

“Our energy and creative universes complemented each other so well that we decided to work together and develop our artistic vision to share with the world.”

Lívia Balážová MM (Co-funder Colectivo Priekopník Veverička)

She was trained in academies such as Konzervatórium J.L. Bellu Banská Bystrica (Slovakia), SEAD (Austria) and P.A.R.T.S. (Belgium).

She has participated in projects for Kubilai Khan Investigations (France), Rui Horta (Portugal) and Wim Vandekybus (Belgium).

From Colectivo Priekopník Veverička she has developed her own creations such as #whateveristrendingnow, PRACH / POLVO and La Plancha, while she has collaborated with international creations, such as: What the body does not remember and Speak low if you speak love (Ultima Vez), Este Barco (Luis Alfredo Sierra Chacon), DoDna and Millennial Magic Mirror (MimoOs), EU .GENUS (Honey and Dust Company), CRUSH (Marlyn Attie and Fundación Espacio Creativo), Čin and Punk Pajama Party (Divadlo Štúdio Tanca), Islas (R3M), Ženy 2020 (Move-you o.z), Nefotografie and Neistota (Divadlo K), Vnorená (Odivo), Walking songs (Divadlo Aréna).

The performance Čin won the Dosky 2019 award in the category extraordinary performance in dance theater, and the performance Vnorená received 3 nominations for the Dosky 2022.

She has taught workshops in Germany, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Slovakia, Hungary, Mexico, Nicaragua, New York, Panama, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Russia, Austria and Greece.

In the year 2020 co-founded the RED Movement Network online training platform.

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Coming from the country with strong folkloric roots, my formation path was very much influenced by it.

During my studies at conservatory J.L.Bellu, besides classical and folklore dance, I fell in love with contemporary dance style, which brought me to discover my authentic dynamic movement. I was lucky/blessed to explore this deeper at the international schools like SEAD and P.A.R.T.S.

I have always been a very energetic person with endless curiosity to look for different ways of expressing my artistic soul. Over the years performing, collaborating with different artistic companies, traveling and getting to know different cultures, I had the need to create my own playful training practice, to be able to share it with other movers, artists, people and like this keep on getting inspired by them. The adrenalin of the unknown in the new opportunities is what gives me the push to keep exploring my artistic spirit.