Save the last dance for me
Alessandro Sciarroni
In “Save the last dance for me”, Italian choreographer Alessandro Sciarroni works with dancers Gianmaria Borzillo and Giovanfrancesco Giannini on the steps of the Bolognese dance Polka Chinata. This is a courtship dance that was originally only danced by men and dates back to the early 20th century: it is physically demanding, almost acrobatic and requires the dancers to embrace, twirl around and bend almost to the floor on their knees. Sciarroni discovered this dance in December 2018, when only five people were still practising it in Italy. Together with Giancarlo Stagni, a Filuzziani dance master, Sciarroni revived the forgotten tradition with the help of a few documentary recordings. A wonderful reminiscence of Italian folk culture.
In order to bring this almost forgotten tradition closer to the visitors, a workshop with the two dancers will be offered on May 4 as part of HELLERAU Moves to learn the basic steps of the polka chinata.
Duration: ca. 30 min
Without the use of language
More information to the piece:
„Intense, heartfelt, intimate“ – tanznetz.
„A new spin on spin“ – The New York Times
Alessandro Sciarroni is one of Europe’s most innovative choreographers. He has been delighting international audiences with his pieces for more than ten years. His works are shown at contemporary dance and theater festivals, in museums and art galleries as well as in unconventional spaces, always incorporating different disciplines into his work. In 2019, he was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale for his life’s work in dance. His work is characterized by a precise choreographic signature, a profound examination of space and a consistent use of time, which repeatedly creates an empathetic relationship between the audience and the performers.
Among the main events he took part: the Biennale de la Danse in Lyon, Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels, Impulstanz Festival in Wien, the Venice Biennale, the Festival d’Automne and the Festival Séquence Danse at 104 in Paris, Centrale Fies, Abu Dhabi Art Fair, Crossing The Line in New York, Hong Kong Art Festval, Juli Dans Festival in Amsterdam, TBA Festival Portland, Festival Panorama Rio de Janeiro and he exhibited his work at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, The Walker Art Center Minneapolis, Punta della Dogana-Palazzo Grassi in Venice and the MAXXI Museum in Rome.
