Barbara Toma, a stage animal, agitator, and choreographer, graduated last century from the Theaterschool in Amsterdam (SNDO). There, she was fortunate to train with international masters such as David Zambrano, Steve Paxton, Nancy Stark Smith, Katie Duck, and Susan Rethorst. Her thirty-year career includes tours with major companies like Dejà Donnè, Donald Fleming, and ALDES Roberto Castello. In the field of stage improvisation, she has collaborated with many international artists, including musicians William Parker, Matthew Shipp, Luca Venitucci, Fabrizio Puglisi, Gianni Le Noci, Alberto Fiori, Jeroen Kimman, Eugenio Sanna, Michael Vatcher, Filippo Monico, and directors and choreographers Milena Costanzo, Ambra Senatore, David Fernandez, Paola Bianchi. As a choreographer, she has presented her creations in Italy and abroad. In Milan, the city of her heart where she lived for 17 years, she directed three editions of the International SHORT FORMATS Festival at the CRT Teatro Research Center, founded the C-Dap Lombardy Dance Coordination, and from 2006 to 2014 contributed to the birth and growth of the PimOff Theater, where she was the artistic director. Since 1998, she regularly teaches choreographic composition, improvisation, and contemporary technique (floorwork and release) in various contexts. Since 2015, she has lived in Lecce where she is part of the teaching staff at AMA Mediterranean Academy of the Actor, collaborates with Factory Compagnia Transadriatica, Principio Attivo Teatro, and NASCA Theater. Since 2020, she has deepened her studies in holistic disciplines, in which she continues to train. Since 2022, she teaches yoga. She is the mother of Frida and Mirta.