Ana Gabriela Ribeiro
ABOUT
The Brand (CARMEN)
Why Carmen Creative Cultural Tours?
Carmen was born in Rio in 2019, as a brand that carries my creative DNA. Although I was not named Carmen, the name has always resonated deeply with me — echoing both the expressive spirit of Carmen Miranda and the dramatic intensity of Carmen from Carmen de Biset.
Carmen represents that part of me — passionate, artistic and deeply connected to all forms of storytelling.
Though this project, I share that voice with those who seek a more thoughtful personal and layered way of discovering a place.
My Bio
I was born in Rio and moved to Estoril at the age of eight, growing up between cultures and perspectives that would later shape my work.
I hold a BA in Cultural Communication from the Catholic University of Lisbon, and my background is rooted in the performing arts. I trained in classical ballet until my twenties, later moving to London to study Musical Theatre.
In my thirties, I lived in Paris for six years where I completed an MFA in Film directing — an experience that deepened my interest in narrative, structure and the art of observation.
I later returned to Rio de Janeiro where I created my first theatrical experience for tourism, Encantos do Alto, and worked as professional tour guide with international tourism agencies, such as Quimbaya Latin America.
Alongside my work in tourism, I am also writer. I published the novel Provincial Country club, a satirical look at the conservative and aspirational elite of Cascais, and I was awarded 3rd place at the SCRIPT V+ with the comedy screenplay Madam.
Today, my work brings together performance, storytelling and cultural observation.
My experiences are not traditional tours, but curated narratives — shaped by a cosmopolitan perspective and an outsider's gaze that explores not only places, but the people, behaviour and subtle dynamics within them.
Previous Creative Experience
Encantos do Alto - Rio de Janeiro (2019)
A theatrical and character-driven cultural experience created in Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca Forest, blending storytelling, performance and immersive tourism.
Originally developed in collaboration with researcher Bruno Toussaint Pereira and later presented to the Blumar Tourism Agency, the project explored Brazilian nature, mythology and historical imagination through a more experiential and narrative-driven approach.
This early project reflects the foundations of the curatorial and storytelling perspective that continues to shape my work today.
