Hanging in the balance between the extreme smallness of a single image detail,
and the extreme wideness of a generally recognizable myth,
Sanpapié tells its stories.
photo by Valeria De Cicco – Oleandroart
Sanpapié began in 2007, following a meeting of minds between the choreographer Lara Guidetti, the dramatist Sarah Chiarcos, the musician and dramatist Marcello Gori and the manager Fabio Ferretti. In April 2009, Marta Marchesi joined the company, supporting the company communication and management.
The team players met during a theatre-dance project, at the Paolo Grassi School of Dramatic Arts, in collaboration with the director Fabio Cherstich, which culminated in the production of Pentesilea (Aprile 06, TeatrOltre – Urbino; Apritiscena – Crema; Consenso e Contatto – Milan).
Since its birth, Sanpapié has been pursuing a research that focuses on three different fields: choreography, drama and music with a well-defined aim: fusing the narrative characteristic typical of the theatrical language with expressive power typical of choreography.
The first example of this philosophy was embodied by Sempreverde, a production for three dancers, that represented this approach exactly.
In March 2008, Sanpapié debuted with BOH, a new show presented in Modena for the “T come Teatro” Festival and hosted by the “Migration International Festival” in Paris. The show was chosen for several Festivals such as “Danz’è – Oriente Occidente” in Rovereto, the “Vetrina della Giovane Danza d’Autore – Ammutinamenti” in Ravenna, and for “L’oro del Reno – Teatri di Vita”, in Bologna. Sanpapié took BOH to“Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2009”.
In June 2009 the Company presented Modelli tagliati in carne [per l’esecuzione di un soggetto]at Pac – Contemporary Art Museum in Milan. Following the suggestions that came out from this new phase of working together, the Company found the inspiration and the energy to work on a new production that represents the natural evolution of the everlasting research lead by Sanpapié. This natural evolution is embodied by Prima Persona, the 2009 Sanpapié production presented in October 2009 at Teatro Ringhiera in Milan, during the “Previsioni - nuove proposte per la scena milanese” Festival. The work was on stage also in January 2010 at the Spazio Mil, where the Company attends a residency project. The Company’s growing international reputation was heightened further when Prima Persona was chosen as on the performances in Teatro de Madrid, eminent dance festival Cartografias de la Danza in February 2010.
Thanks to ETRE – Cariplo prize won in 2008, Sanpapié is a resident company at Spazio Mil, in Sesto San Giovanni with two other theatre companies for a triennial project called PUL. This project is aimed at defining a long lasting activity that will enrich the territory through a qualitative and creative cultural offer.
Next fall, Sanpapié is going to be touring in Uk and Spain both with BOH and Prima Persona. The Company will also be hosted by Morag Deyes at Dance Base, for a residency period from 22nd november till 3rd december.
