Tell us about your dance studies
I have started my dance studies at an age which I can't even remember. My parents are both ex dancers and they direct 2 dance schools in Pescara and Francavilla al Mare, my hometown in Italy. Scuola D'Arte New Step has been the place where I grew up, where my love for art exploded, where I learned how to experience dance in all its facets. It's the place where I experienced every style of dance, from contemporary to ballet, tap dance, hip hop and so on, and where I had the chance to attend singing and acting classes as well. At the age of 18 I moved to Florence to attend the DAW professional dance program directed by Eugenio Buratti and at the age of 19 is when I moved to Israel to study at the Maslool Professional Dance Program which was at the time directed by Naomi Perlov.
Tell us about your experience at Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company
In 2017 I got my first company job with Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, directed by Rami Be'er. Located in Kibbutz Ga'aton in the north of Israel, this magical place has shaped me like no other place before. I have been surrounded by amazing dancers, movers, artists which have inspired me every single day and still do. We mostly performed works by our director which we brought on world tours throughout the years, travelling to places like Korea, France, USA, Colombia, China, Peru, Montenegro, Germany among others. Kibbutz has been able to create an environment of curiosity, of sensitivity, of creativity and it has given us the chance to create and perform creations of our colleagues as well. Life in the Kibbutz has something I never found in any other place. We lived in full contact with nature, sharing a life that could only happen in such places. A life of art, music, connections, freedom and love. I keep this place and all the people that shared those years with me in my heart, every day. And I thank each and everyone of them for showing me what is like to fully live while freely moving.
Tell us about your experience at the National Theater of Mannheim
I moved to Mannheim (Germany) in 2022 to start my journey with Nationaltheater Mannheim directed by Stephan Thoss. To this day this is my main job and the place where my life continues to evolve. This theater has been giving me the chance to expand my mind in many different directions, giving me the space to approach countless dance languages. I have had the opportunity to perform works by choreographers like Marco Goecke, Nadav Zelner, Johan Inger, Emma Evelein, Stephan Thoss, Martin Harriague, Edward Clug and Alba Castillo. It is a place which also gives great space to dancers to create and find their own language and this year I had the chance to create a solo on myself which I've performed in the shared evening "Engelsgrüße", choreographed by me and other 5 dancers of the company.
Do you have a favourite choreographer?
I don't have a favorite choreographer. I always say I don't really have favorites in anything in my life. Everything constantly shifts. I do as well. I like to get shaken by art, to keep my mind open towards anything I might see or encounter. I always find new people that inspire me. But for sure some of them have been an inspiration for a longer time... such as Alexander Ekman and Martin Harriague, a dear friend and colleague who has always pushed boundaries and creativity to another level.
Do you have any favourite routine of warmup?
I usually like to warm up starting with slow movements on the floor, massaging my body parts, letting my body understand that we are going to face some movements and actions together. I feel the need to take the time to let my mind and my body know that we're beginning the day. I do take yoga exercises as a base for the beginning of my warm up, and I slowly shift into some workout routines to activate every muscle. Once I feel my body awakening that's when I like to start a little improv to understand what is necessary for my body on that specific day. And handstands... I always do handstands. I have this weird necessity of being upside down, to see things from a different perspective , at least once a day.
How do you keep in shape?
Keeping myself in shape is a little job which requires lots of small attention throughout the day. I of course work in a theater where we constantly work with our body, so I try to get as much rest as possible as well. I constantly take vitamins to give a little support to both my mind and my body. I walk a lot before and after work. But I admit that I wouldn't walk as much as I do if it weren't for my beautiful dog, who shares with me the most amazing time outside in the fresh air, which I firmly believe can be the cure to many things. I am also a big fanatic of stretching, which is something you'll see me do anytime I have a free moment. Last but not least, I do love food. My best friend, mostly when my body needs strength.
What do you suggest to the young dancers approaching to auditions?
Something I could humbly say to dancers approaching auditions would be to trust their gut. Meaning to be their true self and always speak up if anything through this process makes them feel uncomfortable, to always remember that we all want to work with people that we can trust, that can make us grow and experience new worlds together. I would tell them to keep on being hungry, to look for new inspirations, to get inspired during auditions: to not get competitive with the others, but look at them, appreciate them, get inspired by them. I truly believe auditions are a great moment to get inspired and evolve. So trust yourself, believe in yourselves and believe in others too. Everyone who is there has so much to give. We all want to be seen, so let's all look around.
What do you do when you are not working?
The biggest part of my life when I'm not working is being a mother to my incredible dog, a constant inspiration and source of love. And next to her I give space to all my passions. I love singing and most of the time I do that while playing a few chords on my guitars. Music has always been an expansion of dance for me. I do have a passion for reading as well, I'll always have a book in my bag. Always. Painting is one other love. Colors in general. Using colors has always been a necessity. Art, art in general, that's what keeps me going.
Tell us a curiosity about you.
A year ago I started taking drums classes after many years of dreaming about it and realized that it is my life instrument, an instrument which requires the most body movement. What's not to love? I would love to be a drummer. And maybe I will be. Why not?
Photos: Marina Terechov , Christian Kleiner , Natalie Grebe