Are you interested in exploring movement as a pathway to joy, creativity, and both personal and professional growth?

With over 20 years of experience in the performing arts and movement education, I have created numerous works, creative projects, artistic residencies, and collaborations across the globe. My passion lies in exploring the essence of human nature and delving into the realms of the subtle, the invisible, and spirituality through dance, theatre, choreography, psychomagic, and transdisciplinary art.

Step into this space to discover my latest dance and performing arts offerings, special classes, workshops, and learn more about Ñinga Candika—my independent dance and physical theatre project, conceived in New Zealand with a Colombian heart.

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Join me for a creative journey through dance, physical theatre, and movement.

Check out the upcoming workshops below!

  • Physical Theatre Workshop (Teens - Adults)

    This immersive Physical Theatre workshop is designed for teens and adults, providing a space to explore the transformative power of movement, rhythm, and dance as tools for storytelling. Participants will engage in a combination of energy based practices, physical theatre techniques, and creative improvisation. The focus will be on building body awareness, understanding the relationship between movement and emotion, and learning how to create and perform characters through physical expression. This workshop also offers participants the chance to collaborate and perform in a fun, supportive environment. 

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    Two people with large flowers on their heads, wearing veil-like fabric, performing a dance with outstretched hands against a dark background.

  • The Magic of Movement: A Fun Adventure in Dance, Physical Theatre, and Creative Expression

    The Magic of Movement invites children into a playful world where their bodies become tools for imaginative storytelling. This fun, interactive workshop encourages kids to unlock their creativity through movement games, rhythm, and dance. They will explore how to express emotions, ideas, and stories without words, learning to move with intention and purpose. With lots of laughter, energy, and magical discoveries, this workshop provides a platform for young minds to shine!

    Book Now
    Theatrical performance with dancers in colorful costumes beneath a suspended cloud on a green background.

  • Get in Touch to Create Your Perfect Dance and Movement Experience

    Let’s work together to design a truly unique experience for you and your group or community.

    Inquire
    Dancer performing a backbend in a white dress on stage

Ñinga Candika

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My name is Vivian Medina, and I am an Auckland-based Colombian choreographer, performing artist, yogini, and educator. After 18 years of building my artistic career in Colombia—my home country—and traveling across different countries to engage in cultural and artistic exchanges through residencies and collaborations, I embarked on a journey to New Zealand in search of new opportunities for personal, professional, and spiritual growth.

Migrating to a country where no one knows your work or background can be a challenge. Throughout my career, I have developed my own artistic projects and creations while also collaborating with other artists and masters of dance and performing arts—either as part of their company projects or in co-directing roles.

After nearly seven years of living in New Zealand and establishing my projects and dreams in these new lands, I have decided to pursue a new vision: the creation of my own artistic group and company dedicated toperforming arts, dance, and physical theatre. Breaking new ground is never easy, but it is incredibly rewarding—especially when it creates space for voices that need to be heard, such as those of migrants, Latin communities, indigenous peoples, and other cultures.

The name Ñinga Candika comes from a lullaby in what I believe to be an indigenous dialect from the Nasa, where I grew up in early childhood—a soothing song my grandmother would sing to calm me. Though I never knew its exact meaning, its hypnotic rhythm felt like a mantra, carrying an ancient wisdom beyond words. Recently, I have found that Ñinga, in some indigenous languages of the Andes and Amazon, is associated with strength, wisdom, and spiritual power, while in other Colombian contexts, it can also mean mind or intelligence. Candika, on the other hand, has roots in Indian spirituality, linked to Goddess Chandika, a fierce manifestation of Durga or Kali, representing the force that destroys ignorance and oppression. While "Candika" does not have a documented meaning in Colombian indigenous traditions like those of the Nasa or Sibundoy, these cultures hold a deep reverence for the sacred feminine, nature, and spiritual balance, creating an intuitive bridge between worlds.

More than just a name, Ñinga Candika is a portal to strength and remembrance—a project that transcends borders through art. It stands as both a protest against isolation and invisibility in foreign lands and a celebration of resilience, joy, and self-discovery. This space invites diverse voices to connect, flourish, and inspire, fostering unity across cultures.

  • Celeste Snowber

    It was a delight to read Vivian Medina’s thesis and witness the multiple and deep ways various disciplinary fields intersected, brought together and connected in unique ways. I believe the unique contribution that this thesis brings is the transdisciplinarity of dance, dramaturgy, yogic science, neuroscience and trauma studies in a weave which is holistically approached and needed in multiple fields. I want to convey what an honour it was to read, witness and partake of your work. I think your thesis is a stunning piece of scholarship that comes out of deep risk-taking, artistry and most of all courage. I think it has much to offer the world.

  • Carlos Jose Reyes

    An actress and dancer with exceptional skills in interpretation and the development of stage concepts, she is a professional and dedicated artist. Through her creative process and exploration of the fusion of various stage languages, she has achieved remarkable results, demonstrating a high standard of quality in both her practical work and the theoretical reflection of her research.

  • Tino Fernandez

    Vivian is renowned for her exceptional talent and qualities across the artistic, creative, and human domains. Her outstanding work as a dance interpreter showcases her deep sense of responsibility and professional commitment. For these reasons, I wholeheartedly recommend her for any creative or artistic endeavour, highlighting her remarkable dedication, discipline, and consistency.

  • Sonia Abaunza

    Vivian is recognised for her exceptional talent and qualities in the artistic, creative, and human fields. Her outstanding work as a dance performer reflects her deep sense of responsibility and professional commitment. For these reasons, I highly recommend her for any creative or artistic endeavour, highlighting her remarkable dedication, discipline, and perseverance.

  • Dr Rose Martin

    Vivian’s work as a choreographer and educator in the field of dance is indeed world class. She engages with innovative and important topics that contribute to understanding how dance and movement can be engaged with as a practice for a wide range of people and communities.The wealth of experience that Vivian brings to Aotearoa New Zealand is substantial. She contributes to a wide range of local and national arts communities in the country.

  • Dr Emma Willis

    Vivian has a strong track record of professional employment and commissions and has presented work to the highest artistic and professional standards. She is also a skilled educator who has been teaching dance and yoga for many years and is highly qualified in both fields. She brings a unique inter-cultural and interdisciplinary perspective, and the ability to work with a diverse range of participants. There are few artists in New Zealand who are working at the interface of professional arts practice and arts as a therapeutic practice. She is an honest, empathetic, and highly ethical individual with a deep commitment to others and to the community.

Let’s create and dance together!