Italian dancer and choreographer Silvia Gribaudi has achieved international acclaim, yet her presence in the Netherlands has been limited, with only one prior performance of Graces – after which Theaterkrant sighed about how unfortunate it was that more spectators were not able to experience this hilarious, sophisticated and meaningful work. Now, that chance is offered, as the award-winning Graces is one of the absolute gems in our nineteenth festival edition.
Together with three male graces, Gribaudi's choreography challenges ideas about human imperfection, doing so with passionate humor and empathy, delightfully nimble and far beyond the expected or the cliché. Festival director Samuel Wuersten comments, "At first, you think “this can't be true”, but soon you are swayed: without any embarrassment, Silvia takes everything and everyone and especially her own imperfections and those of her dancers to task."
The Daughters of Zeus with Gribaudi as the shining centerpiece
Inspired by Antonio Canova's famous marble sculpture The Three Graces (created between 1814 and 1817 as a representation of a universal standard of beauty and proportion), Gribaudi positions herself on stage, surrounded by three male dancers portraying the daughters of Zeus as depicted by Canova: Euphrosyne, Aglaea, and Thalia, symbolizing joy, elegance, and youth and beauty, respectively. Gribaudi, whether in the role of the artist or the clown, with her small, plump body and mischievous gaze, creates a stark contrast with the slim, trained bodies of the three ‘daughters’. Clad only in underwear and set to a diverse musical backdrop ranging from Vivaldi and Strauss to electronic and experimental compositions, the quartet explores all conceivable interpretations of the concept of grace. Simultaneously, they prompt contemplation about the essence of beauty and how it is often narrowly construed based on our human values and identity.
Best Italian theatrical production
For almost two decades, Gribaudi's work has challenged gender stereotypes and the concept of virtuosity in the art of dance. She explores the social impact of the human body, with humor and the relationship between audience and performers as a central aspect in her productions. Recognized with numerous awards for her choreographies, Gribaudi was honored with the prestigious Premio DANZA&DANZA 2019 for the best Italian theatrical production for Graces.
Film GRACES | Behind the Scenes
In cooperation with Filmhuis Den Haag, the documentary GRACES | Behind the scenes will be screened. Take a look behind the scenes and see the echo of her own creative process, but also of the relationship with the places and people who have hosted the company, and of the idea that everything, every single moment present can become a valuable part of the artistic structure.
Prior to the documentary, Samuel Wuersten will give a brief introduction. More information, start times and tickets can be found here.
