Carlos Sampaio was born in 1968 in Brazil. He got his first dance education in Sao Paulo and continued in 1995 in Germany at Folkwang Universität der Künste Essen. Under the direction of Prof. Lutz Förster, Sampaio started working as a young choreographer during his study. In 2008 he also completed his studies in dance in education.

His piece „Fliegen“ won an award at the iternational choreographer competition „Prix Volinine“ in Paris and got invited to the International Dancefestival in Seoul/Korea in 2000.

In 2001 Carlos Sampaio got a scholarship from the Foundation for Art and Culture of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the graduate sponsorship of Folkwang Universität der Künste for his choreographic work. Two years later he had a residency at the Brazilian dancefestival „ Ateliê de Coreógrafos Brasileiros“ where he created the dancepiece „Branca Retina“.

Sampaio danced for Susanne Linke, Mark Sieczkarek and Joachim Schlömer not only in Folkwang-Tanzstudio but also at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein and in the Tanztheater Basel.

He was a guest dancer at the Aalto Theater in Essen, at Staatstheater Kassel, in the musical „We Will Rock You“ in Cologne, at the Theater in Erfurt and Dortmund. Since 2008 Carlos Sampaio works for TANZMOTO DANCE COMPANY as a dancer, choreographer and dance pedagogue.