DANZA&DANZA International Magazine September/October Edizione posteriore

Mauro Bigonzetti is undeniably the most in-demand Italian choreographer on the international stage. Indeed, these days he spends ninety percent of his time working abroad. However, for the 2022/2023 season, he is set to create two works in Italy, the first for Michele Merola’s independent company MMCDC and the second commissioned by Eleonora Abbagnato for the Rome Opera Ballet. And that’s in addition to a multitude of other upcoming projects he discussed with us. A wave of South African dance will be taking three important Italian festivals - Torinodanza, Romaeuropa and Aperto in Reggio Emilia - by storm from September: Gregory Maqoma, Via Katlehong and Robyn Orlin bring a political and social message with them through a variety of different poetics and styles.
Also in this issue, we mark the establishment of the first National Choreographic Centre in Italy as we underline the critical points that currently exist with regards to its mission: the Ministry is expected to give further indications in the coming months as to the exact purpose of this new institution in Italy, which, unlike in neighbouring France, will not revolve around the figure of the choreographer. For our A Director Reflects feature we met Martin Schläpfer, at the helm of Wiener Staatsballett for two years after taking up the reins right in the middle of the pandemic, who discusses his desire to breathe modernity into the prestigious ensemble.
As a summer season punctuated by Italian and international premieres draws to a close, we evaluate some of the shows in our Dance Scene section, complete with information on where to catch them in the coming months.