Graces

“Graces” is inspired by the neoclassical sculpture “The Three Graces” by Antonio Canova (1812- 1817). The sculpture draws from mythology and depicts Zeus’ three daughters – Euphrosyne, Aglaea and Thalia – who radiated Joy, Elegance and Beauty.

Three male dancers, Siro Guglielmi, Matteo Marchesi and Andrea Rampazzo, take the stage together with choreographer Silvia Gribaudi, in search of these classical ideals – and fail, over and over again. With generous humor and radical empathy, “Graces” celebrates the beauty of human imperfection, and reveals a core of our humanity.

Over the past ten years, Silvia Gribaudi has been questioning gender stereotypes, female and male identities – and the concept of virtuosity in dance and daily life, expanding beyond cliches and appearances. Gribaudi likes to define herself as an “author of the body” because her poetics constructively transform imperfections, elevating them to an art form through a direct, cruel and empathic comic style, in which there are no boundaries between dance, theater and performing arts.

“Graces” was realised thanks to the critical, visual and directorial support of director, social theatre operator and video maker Matteo Maffesanti. Maffesanti followed through the entire artistic process with Silvia Gribaudi, with several working phases involving workshops for local people inspired by the choreographic material developed in the project.

Since 2004, award-winning Italian choreographer Silvia Gribaudi has focused her research on the social impact of bodies, having set at the centre of her choreographic language the comic element and the relationship between audience and performers. Silvia Gribaudi’s shows have been featured in a number of Italian and international festivals and are the result of a creative process that focuses on dialogue and on the poetic encounter with other artists, dance companies, and communities.