Originally from Brazil, Mariana Oliveira studied at the Royal Academy of Dance in London, and was a trainee dancer at the National Dance Company of Wales. At age 19, she was invited to perform with the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami. In 2009, she founded The Union Project Dance Company.

Oliveira has been commissioned to create new works for New York City Ballet Choreographic Institute, Joffrey Ballet Winning Works, Richmond Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Carolina Ballet, BalletX, Dayton Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Madison Ballet, National Choreographers Initiative, Ballet Arkansas, American Midwest Ballet, Chicago Repertory Ballet, The University of Oklahoma School of Dance, among others. She is a recipient of the NYU Center for Ballet and the Arts Fellowship, as well the Kansas City University Choreographic Fellowship. Her works have also been presented at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and for 2 consecutive years she has been a finalist of the McCallum Theatre Choreography Festival.

Oliveira taught at the Bolshoi Ballet School in Brazil for the dancers of the Youth Company.