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The renowned Italian company, Balletto Teatro di Torino (BTT) makes its exciting New York debut at The Joyce Theater from October 13-18, 2009 introducing the work of resident choreographer Matteo Levaggi to New York audiences. Critically acclaimed internationally, Levaggi's dazzlingly dances are distinguished by his innovative use of contemporary forms and his collaborations with visual artists. BTT will present two impressive programs during its Joyce Theater season featuring five works including two world premieres.
In Program A, Balletto Teatro di Torino will present Primo Toccare, a two-part collaborative work by Levaggi and contemporary visual artists Corpicrudi (Samantha Stella and Sergio Frazzingaro), in which the dancers perform among two very different yet stunning art installations accentuating contrasts between stillness and movement. "Primo," or "first" implies the power of the first touch, glance and impression provoking thought about the fleetingness of life and art. Part I White, an explosive and dynamic piece, premiered at The Biennial of Lyon, France in September 2008 to critical acclaim. According to Il Manifesto, "The eight amazing dancers of the BTT are well suited to the dance conceived by Levaggi...muscle contractions bounce the movement from one point of the body to another...strong legs refer to a solid academic technique vigorously shaken into a post-modern language...there is a deliberate, painted beauty to the vision." By contrast, the second half of the two-part evening Primo Toccare - II Black, a world premiere, is an intimate work set to the minimalistic and serene "Te Deum" by Arvo Pärt.
Trilogy (Program B) is a compilation of three very different impressions of dance set to music by Arvo Pärt, Autechre, Mika Vainio and Johann Sebastian Bach. In SolO, set to music by Pärt, Levaggi creates a hypnotic effect beginning with small repeated movements that develop into a powerful energy that flows and ebbs. Partita, a world premiere set to music by Bach, pulsates with spontaneous energy and rapid movements. Frames, a work for the full company of eight dancers, suggests a choreographic game juxtaposing the compulsive music of Mika Vainio with the methodic composition of English electronic music group Autechre to create a dance of striking contrasts.
About Matteo Levaggi:
Matteo Levaggi has been a dominant presence on the Italian dance scene in recent years. His persuasive choreography incorporates the use of all available dance techniques, classic and non-classic in an audacious contemporary fusion. Levaggi trained at the Balletto Teatro di Torino school under Loredana Furno. From 1993-96 he garnered praise in various competitions including the Concours International de Danse in Paris. In 1997-98 he was a member of Aterballetto, the company led by choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti, and then turned to a freelance career, dancing in several productions such as Les Mémoires d'Hadrien. In 2000 Levaggi was featured in American choreographer Karole Armitage's work Io Giacomo Casanova presented at the Athens Festival. In the same year, he was invited to the Cuba International Ballet Festival directed by Alicia Alonso. After the success of his first dance Salomè (1999) for Balletto Teatro di Torino, Loredana Furno, BTT's Artistic Director, appointed him as the company's resident choreographer. Since that time, BTT has been making its mark as one of Italy's leading companies. In addition to creating several critically acclaimed works for BTT, Levaggi has also choreographed for the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, the Balletto Dell'Arena in Verona, the 2006 Venice Dance Biennale and the 2007 Zagreb Music Biennale (Croatia). Much of Levaggi's success has come with Balletto Teatro di Torino, and Italian critics consider him an original and inventive choreographer.
About the company:
Balletto Teatro di Torino was founded in Turin in the 1970s and headed by Loredana Furno, principal dancer with the Teatro Regio, with an aim of offering a contemporary alternative to the traditional dance performances of the period. In its early years, the company staged new works, often set to original music, by important figures of the time such as Vittorio Biagi, Roberto Fascilla, Loris Gai and Milorad Miskovitch. In the '80s and '90s, continuing its search for new ideas, it increasingly opened up to contemporary dance, performing work by choreographers including Job Sanders, Roberto Castello, Bertrand D'At, Charles Vodoz and Jozsef Tari. The José Limón Dance Foundation in New York entrusted it with "There Is a Time," one of the American choreographer's masterpieces. BTT has also presented major monographic showings of José Limón (1995), Serge Lifar (1997), Aurel Milloss (1999) and Karole Armitage (2000) that included exhibitions, educational outreach and master classes. The company's main focus remains contemporary dance premiering works by Luca Veggetti, Loris Petrillo, Gigi Caciulenu, and Karole Armitage. In 2001, BTT redefined its artistic profile with the appointment of Matteo Levaggi as resident choreographer. Under his leadership, the company has renewed its image and has staged some 60 productions and performed worldwide. Toge ther with its dance season in Turin and performances in the major Italian theatres, the company has toured Argentina, Peru, United States, Brazil, Uruguay, Russia, China, Taiwan, and Israel. In 2008, BTT won the "Prix compagnie d'auteur" during "Les Etoiles de Ballet 2000" at the Festival Palace, Cannes, Frances.
Balletto Teatro di Torino at The Joyce Theater, October 13-18
Program A: Tuesday & Wednesday at 7:30pm, Thursday and Friday at 8pm.
Program B: Saturday at 2pm & 8pm and Sunday at 2pm and 7:30pm. Following the Wednesday performance, there will be a free post-performance conversation with Matteo Levaggi.
