Andrea Torres

Andrea Torres is a pioneer of Aerial Dance in Hawai'i. Her journey started at age 10 in her native Brazil, where she took her first ballet class. Soon after, Andrea earned a full scholarship in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Contemporary Dance. She represented her dance school in many festivals around Brazil. From 1995-1998, she worked as a Latin Dance Choreographer and Soloist for entertainer Charo, performing nightly in Waikiki and dancing in Reno, Los Angeles and on Cruise Ships throughout the Hawaiian Islands. After landing a role in the Maui production of "Ulalena," Andrea was sent to Montreal to learn basic aerial skills. As the original cast member and inspiration for Hina, the Goddess of the Moon, she developed her own movement language and choreography on the double-ring (her favorite apparatus). She was hooked, so to speak. In 2004, she co-founded Samadhi Hawai’i (with fellow "Ulalena" cast members, Ana Prada and Marcus Quiniones, on Maui) as the Islands’ only aerial acrobatic performance troupe. After re-locating to Oahu, she invited fellow Iona dancers to join the company which soon grew into an aerial school. Andrea takes to the regular practice and teaching of Yoga in order to maintain the balance, flexibility, and strength that is required in aerial work. This has led to the distinct teaching style she shares with her aerial students at the Samadhi Hawai'i School of Aerial Dance. In 2010, she headed the collaboration of a Performing Arts Summer Experience entitled, "What If..." She has planted these seeds to hopefully grow into her dream Performing Arts School. Andrea also teaches annually at Kalani Performing Arts Festival, at Kalani Oceanside Retreat on the Big Island of Hawa’ii. Most recently Andrea Torres and Samadhi Hawaii has introduced Aerial Dance to Fiji’s Oceania Dance Theatre @ the University of South Pacific.

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Her aerial work has appeared with Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre, Tau Dance Theatre, Sonny Ching's Halau Na Mamo o Pu'uanahulu in Hawai’i and Japan, I ka Wa Kahiko-Haleakala Productions, Honua'ula Luau at Maui Marriott Wailea, and at many other local events. A highlight in her career was performing aerial dance for the first time at NaHoku Hanohano Awards (the Hawaiian Grammy's) with Nohelani Cypriano. Andrea is most proud of sharing the art of Aerial Dance, with live music in the most amazing outdoor locations in the Hawaiian Islands. She has been described as being one of the islands’ most breathtaking performers.

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