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The Dance Enthusiast Asks Italian Dance Artists Roberto Altamura & Vanessa Tamburi About Italian Dance Connection (IDACO nyc) 2017
By Sammi Sowerby / Follow @sammi.in.shanghai on Instagram
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Published on May 30, 2017
Photo © Milano Contemporary Ballet / Compagnia Danza Milano.
And The Theme is 'TransformAction'
WHAT: “IDACO nyc” 2017 will focus on the theme 'TransformAction,' in an effort to draw attention to artistic responses to ongoing personal, social and political change.
WHERE: Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Ave, New York, NY
WHEN: Friday-Sunday, June 2-4, 2017
TICKETS: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/970130
Sammi Lim for The Dance Enthusiast: Ciao! How has Milano Contemporary Ballet paved the way for contemporary dance in Italy?
Roberto Altamura, Artistic Director of Milano Contemporary Ballet: Milano Contemporary Ballet is a young company with young dancers. We have partnered with Company Wayne McGregor and through that venture have moved from our own productions to a larger company repertoire. The relationship with McGregor’s company has allowed us to grow that much faster. It is a difficult moment to create a dance career in Italy, especially for young dancers. We still have a long way to go, but I believe in this project and I think in the long run we will succeed to change something in Italy.
TDE: How will your company’s contribution to IDACO 2017 adhere to this year’s theme 'TransformAction'?
RA: 'Transform' and 'action' are two words that together have a powerful meaning. That power translates well into Antonio Vivaldi’s music, which we use in our performance. The delicacy and force of the music affects the body and makes it change as it moves through space. The movement is frenetic, full and precise, but at the same time light and delicate. The movement changes in response to the music, thereby creating emotion. That is my idea of TransformAction.
TDE: Have you worked with or seen any of the other participating companies on stage prior?
SL: I know many of the companies participating in the Italian Dance Connection Festival, but not all of them. Of those companies I know, I really appreciate their creative process. I know how they work, and they are excellent. I look forward to seeing the work of those companies I do not know – I believe that by seeing the work of others, there is always something new to learn.
TDE: How does it feel to perform alongside your fellow countrymen in a specially curated Italian program in New York City?
RA: I am very proud to be part of the IDACO program, an event that enhances Italian art abroad. It is a pleasure to be a part of it. I'm excited to have this excellent opportunity for me, and my dancers, to be able to confront, exchange, watch and appreciate dance from different points of view.
TDE: The Dance Enthusiast has a section on our website where spectators of dance can write in about a recent performance they saw. What are your sentiments on viewer feedback?
RA: I think audience feedback is a good thing. We perform for an audience, so it’s extremely interesting to hear their thoughts on our work. Audience feedback helps us to understand how to improve, and allows us to build on our achievements.
TDE: Hi, Vanessa! I can't believe it's already been a year since you sent us a Postcard about IDACO 2016! Not only does it keep growing, but there's a new venue this year; from Sheen Center to Baruch Performing Arts Center. Comments?
Vanessa Tamburi, Co-founder of IDACO: For us it’s a big challenge to have moved to a big Institutional Performing Arts Center. It means that IDACO nyc is growing!!! Our collaboration with the Baruch College and the Artistic Director of the BPAC Ted Altshuler has been creative, positive and full of new ideas. Space is essential for dance and having a larger stage will improve the quality of all the performances. We look forward to working with Italian and International artists in the beautiful space of the Rose Nagelberg theatre of the Baruch Performing Arts Center.
TDE: Why do you deem it important to address TransformAction this year?
VT: Last year IDACO focused on the theme ID-ENTITIES, which brought up the subject of cultural diversity, beliefs, belonging, self-determination, and different worldviews. This year, we will emphasize the contribution of performing arts to our understanding of contemporary society by broadening our attention from individuality to collectivity, questioning whether - as a group - we can face times that are always taking different forms. That’s why we made up this new word, TRANSFORMACTION, merging transformation and action. Among all performing arts, dance is ideally suited to reflect on change and movement, literally writing our collecting action as a choreographic sequence.
Thank you, Vanessa and Roberto. See you at IDACO 2017!
The Dance Enthusiast Asks Questions and Creates Conversation.
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