DANZA&DANZA International Magazine

Telling stories from the female perspective: that could be the leitmotif for this issue, where we get to know one of the rare choreographers committed to creating “narrative ballets” in the third millennium: Cathy Marston. The British director of Ballett Zürich is a keen author who loves storytelling. Her new Romeo and Juliet for the Swiss company promises plenty of surprises. But we also attempt an exploration of the controversial Venetian figure Giacomo Casanova, who continues to inspire dance, now as in the past. In the light of new research into his life, and through an all-female lens, three Italian choreographers – Michela Lucenti, Simona Bertozzi, and Erika Silgoner – “describe” him through dance, in the new COB-Opus Ballet production Casanova.Variazioni sul desiderio (“Casanova. Variations on desire”).
But the star of this issue is the effervescent Principal of La Scala Theatre Ballet: Alice Mariani. Mariani is busy with new projects in Italy and abroad: a gala she has curated for her hometown of Massa, and a duet with Hugo Marchand, Principal of the Paris Opera Ballet.
What place does humour have in contemporary dance? Very few dancemakers attempt to go down this route, and one of the best-known internationally is without doubt the Argentine Luciano Rosso, currently on tour with his latest work. Then, for our longstanding “A Director Reflects” section, we met Pontus Lidberg, whose artistic plans are ringing the changes at Nice Opera Ballet, where he has reinstated its original name.
And we couldn’t fail to commemorate a giant of choreography: Hans van Manen, who passed away a few months ago. We take an in-depth look at his repertoire and discuss him with Rachel Beaujean, director of the Foundation that bears his name.