GRACES

Press

“Gribaudi and her three dancers throw a wild party on stage. She not only dances but sings, too, and is a master of stand-up comedy – and the death spiral! […] Gribaudi turns clichés on their heads and subtly criticises perfectionist attitudes with images of posing musclemen and sculptural stills resembling ancient marble statues. The key question here, which she indeed asks the almost capacity audience, is: What is beauty?”

Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung, 8 September 2022

Preview Text

A prominent, vocal figure on the Italian contemporary dance scene, Silvia Gribaudi is making her first appearance at the festival this year. Described by the press as “the prophetess of the free body”, her central theme is the body beyond the norm and “GRACES”, too, explores the perhaps unexpected places where beauty lies. Inspired by Antonio Canova’s famous sculpture “Three Graces”, the piece takes a critical but extremely humorous look at various stereotypes. Here, the graces, representing the three daughters of Zeus, are portrayed by strong, muscular dancers with Gribaudi herself – of rather sturdy stature – completing the ensemble. The disparate but astoundingly harmonious quartet turns clichés on their head in a choreography that exudes fun. Turns, jumps, lifts, and kaleidoscopically changing formations provide plenty of variety in the wittily composed scenes, which combine to form a both moving and entertaining appeal for freedom for the human body.

Watch a video on Vimeo: vimeo.com/363259025

(approx. 50 mins)

cast & credits

Choreography: Silvia Gribaudi

Dramaturgy: Silvia Gribaudi and Matteo Maffesanti

Performers: Silvia Gribaudi, Siro Guglielmi, Matteo Marchesi, Andrea Rampazzo

Light Design: Antonio Rinaldi

Technical Director: Leonardo Benetollo

Costumes: Elena Rossi

Production: Associazione Culturale Zebra, Venice

Co-production: Santarcangelo dei Teatri, Santarcangelo di Romagna

Supported by: MiC - Italian Ministry of Culture, Rome

Project realized with the contribution of ResiDance XL – luoghi e progetti di residenza per creazioni coreografiche, action of the network Anticorpi XL - Network Giovane Danza D’autore, coordinated by L’arboreto - Teatro Dimora, Mondaino / IntercettAzioni - Centro di Residenza Artistica della Lombardia - progetto di Circuito CLAPS Industria Scenica, Milano Musica, Teatro delle Moire, Zona K

Artistic residencies: Klap - Maison Pour la danse, Marseille / Centro per la Scena Contemporanea-Operaestate Festival, Bassano del Grappa/ ORLANDO, Bergamo / Lavanderia a Vapore Centro di Residenza per la danza regione Piemonte, Torino / L’arboreto - Teatro Dimora | La Corte Ospitale, Emilia-Romagna/ ARTEFICI - Artisti Associati, Gorizia / Dansstationen/ Danscentrum Syd/ Skånes Dansteater, Malmö.
Supported by the network CollaborAction#4 2018/2019 composed by Rete Anticorpi/ Ater Circuito Regionale Multidisciplinare / Associazione Mosaico Danza-Interplay / Piemonte Dal Vivo / Amat / Arteven/ Fondazione Teatro Comunale di Vicenza / Associazione Artedanzae20/ Teatro Pubblico Pugliese/ C.L.A.P.Spettacolodalvivo / Associazione Armunia / Fondazione Toscana Spettacolo Onlus

With thanks to the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover.