Alter Ego
choreography, light, stage, costumes: Jacopo Godani
music: 48nord
duration: 60’
premiere: HELLERAU-European Centre for the Arts, Dresden, 2019 / extended version’s premiere Bockenheimer Depot, Frankfurt am Main, 2020
In this piece, Godani once more pursues his artistic passion: the endless possibilities of metamorphosis in his choreographic work. It is a creation in which choreographic language has been set free, beyond known parameters. It is the opening to a new mode of perception. Human bodies manifesting animalistic characteristics create a universe of strange creatures: animals, half human and half insect, interacting and communicating with each other. But not stopping on all these transformations the choreographer continues on, enhancing the human body with angular shapes, thereby expanding aesthetic boundaries.
Internationally acclaimed choreographer Jacopo Godani was born in La Spezia, Italy, where he began studying classical ballet and modern dance techniques in 1984 at the Centro studi Danza under the direction of Loredana Rovagna. He also pursued studies in visual arts for three years at the Fine Arts School of Carrara. In 1986, Godani was accepted to further his studies at Maurice Béjart’s international dance center Mudra in Brussels. Godani made his professional debut in 1988 performing with several Paris-based contemporary dance companies. In 1990, Godani formed his own Brussels-based company and began his choreographic career. His work in Brussels was produced by the theatre L’Atelier Saint-Anne and was supported by the Théâtre Plateau. From 1991 to 2000, Godani has been a leading soloist with William Forsythe’s Ballet Frankfurt and has collaborated with Forsythe on the choreographic creation of many of Ballet Frankfurt’s most representative pieces. Godani developed his career as a choreographer creating original works for a vast range of international companies such as Royal Ballet Covent Garden, Bayerisches Staatsballett, Compañía Nacional de Danza, NederlandsDans Theater, Royal Danish Ballet, Ballet British Columbia….
The Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company is based in equal measure in the cities of Dresden and Frankfurt am Main. Internationally acclaimed choreographer Jacopo Godani serves as artistic director of the company. The repertoire of the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company consists primarily of works by Godani. His goal is the production of a vibrant new choreographic language, one that requires virtuosity in its expression while posing physical challenges to the performers. On this journey, dance’s traditional heritage will converge with contemporary thought, giving rise to a highly unique ensemble. Cooperation partners are the states of Saxony and Hessen and the cities of Dresden and Frankfurt am Main, as well as private supporters and public sponsors. Supported by the city of Dresden and the state of Saxony as well as the city of Frankfurt am Main and the state of Hessen. Company is in Residence of both Dresden’s HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts and Frankfurt’s Bockenheimer Depot.
dancers of Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company: Aleksandrs Baldiskins, Felix Berning, Kevin Beyer, Roberta Inghilterra, Anne Jung, Clay Koonar, Barbora Kubátová, Amanda Lana, Zoe Lenzi Allaria, Viktoria Nowak, Michael Ostenrath, Vincenzo De Rosa, Carola Sicheri, David Leonidas Thiel, Tars Vandebeek, Sam Young-Wright
Supported by the city of Dresden and the state of Saxony as well as the city of Frankfurt am Main and the state of Hesse. Company-in-Residence of both HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts in Dresden and the Bockenheimer Depot in Frankfurt am Main.
