ANIMAL'S BACK

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Award-winning dancer, choreographer, and lecturer Alessandra Cristiani

invites us to explore the hidden depths of human movement. Inspired by the teachings of Butoh masters (a.o. Akira Kasaï and Masaki Iwana) and the practices of Physical Theatre and Steinerian Eurythmy, Cristiani delves into the back as a metaphorical and literal canvas for new forms of expression.Her approach is rooted in the belief that true dance emerges from the obscure, the indistinct, and the intimate. She investigates the body’s subtle resources, aiming to awaken its intuitive intelligence and connect with its “animal soul.” Through perceptive practices of presence, breath work, and exercises that balance body and spirit, Cristiani creates a space where movement becomes a poetic act of listening and transformation.

Cristiani's training methods emphasize the organicity of performance, encouraging dancers to root themselves in their bodies, to engage with their inner desires and obscure intentions. This process of physical and emotional exploration allows for a dynamic interplay between what is private and what is public, between the hidden and the revealed.

In her workshop, dance images become a source of inspiration and a gateway to individual bodily landscapes, conjuring the intangible and expressing the profound. Cristiani’s work invites participants to witness the emergence of a dance that is both deeply personal and universally resonant, where the body's hidden narratives come to life in an exquisite balance of vulnerability and strength.