Demis Volpi

When I think about it, it was 7 years ago when I first met Demis. He was a dancer in the Stuttgart Ballet and I was about to start my first season with Gauthier Dance. I trained at the Stuttgart ballet for a few weeks before my season started. Demis was one of the first people to talk to me…He introduced himself before class. I was nervous about training with the Stuttgart Ballet… speaking with Demis “broke the ice” a little bit. I went into class a little more relaxed. Once my season started, I didn’t see Demis as much, but of course I never forgot that.

I came back to the Staatstheater in 2009. Demis and I were choreographers in Noverre-Society’s “Young Choreographers” evening. I used dancers from the Stuttgart Ballet, which made it difficult to find studio space, but my cast was FIERCE. I would catch the end of Demis’s rehearsal sometimes. Even from the little bit I would catch, I knew that he was well on his way to do big things. All the dancers were focused and committed. They too believed in Demis, and you could see that. I learned a few things from Demis as well. He was a tough negotiator…

Demis Volpi was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He began his ballet training at the age of four and studied with Andrea Candela, Mario Gallizi, Wilhelm Burmann and at the Escuela de Danza del Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón. Subsequently he attended the National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto and, from 2002 to 2004, the John Cranko School in Stuttgart. In 2004, he became an apprentice with the Stuttgart Ballet and joined the Corps de ballet in 2005.

With his first choreographies for the Stuttgart based Noverre-Society’s “Young Choreographers” evenings, Demis Volpi made his mark as a choreographer. He created his first piece – on and on and on – in 2006 and was subsequently invited back to create works in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In 2010, Artistic Director Reid Anderson commissioned a world premiere from Volpi for the Stuttgart Ballet – Big Blur – followed by a highly acclaimed production of The Carneval of the Animals for the John Cranko School. In May 2012, The Carneval of the Animals was taken into the repertoire of Hamburg Ballet’s school.

For the 2011 Erik Bruhn Competition he created the Pas de deux Little Monsters for Stuttgart Ballet Dancers Elisa Badenes and Daniel Camargo. The piece won not only the Choreographic Prize but also the Audience Choice Award. In November 2011, Private Light, a commissioned work for American Ballet Theatre, received its world premiere. Also in 2011, he created a new work for Birgit Keil’s Badisches Staatsballett and in 2012 a new work for Ballett Augsburg.

Reid Anderson then commissioned a full length production from Volpi: Krabat based on the best- selling young adult novel by one of Germany’s most famous authors: Otfried Preussler. The world premiere took place on March 22nd, 2013 in the Opera House. Following the first performance, Reid Anderson appointed Volpi to Resident Choreographer of the Stuttgart Ballet, effective as of September 2013. In April 2014, Demis Volpi created Aftermath, a world premiere for the Stuttgart Ballet set to a commissioned score by the American composer Michael Gordon. Also in April 2014, his Elegy, a creation for the Latvian National Ballet set to music by Peteris Vasks, received its world premiere in Riga.

The times sure have changed… I have watched Demis over the years, go from Corps de Ballet to Resident Choreographer of the Stuttgart ballet. I had to have him for this series… Even writing and remembering these stories fills me with Inspiration.Thank you Demis for your inspiration.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you always want to do what you’re doing now?

I wanted to be a dancer ever since I can remember!! I was born a bunhead. I also wanted to become an astronaut for a while. I am still trying to find a way to combine the two. Choreography, which is what I do today, found me. A bit like Harry Potter and his wand. I’ve come to realize it is the most real form of communication I’m capable of.

Demis’s Favorite Things

 Favorite Things to eat?

Hamburger with sweet potato fries!!

Favorite Books?

In Latin America, the short story plays a very important role in literature. Two of my all-time favorites are by Jorge Luis Borges: Tigres Azules (Blue Tigers) and El Aleph (The Aleph). I also love all of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the Harry Potter series for sure too.

Favorite Movies?

“The Talented Mr. Ripley” with Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law. Some of the imagery in “What Dreams May Come” has fascinated me over and over again. “Finding Nemo” for its clever wit and “The Lion King” for its sensible intelligence.

Favorite Dance Piece or Show/Musical or both?

“Onegin” by John Cranko still at the top and I still get the chills when I think of “Beautiful Freak” by Marco Goecke for the Hamburg Ballet.

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I like dancers who…

…think, are ahead of me and challenge me… understand the process as a whole and don’t make it about themselves …have a sense of humor and aren’t afraid to try things out and fail because they believe in dance

I am afraid of…

…dishonesty. I don’t get that concept yet and what we don’t understand freaks us out.

A dance piece should…

…communicate and build bridges.

Something you like to do other than your current job?

See “favorites-question” number one!!

What is your most embarrassing moment?

As a dancer: Falling flat on my side during the second act of The Sandmann by Christian Spuck.As a choreographer: when I choreographed my first piece for the Stuttgart Ballet and forgot during the process that people would see it…during the first stage call with everyone watching I felt mortified, a bit like someone walking in on you while you’re sitting on the toilet.

One of the hardest things about your job?

I don’t have a sleeping pattern anymore. My brain has lost the ability to turn off…

One of the happiest moments in your life?

When I took my very first ballet class at age four. I remember crying and telling my mom “this is the happiest day of my life”! I told you I’m a bunhead… Also taking a bow together with Reid Anderson -Artistic Director of the Stuttgart Ballet – my boss, mentor and dear friend, the day he appointed me Resident Choreographer of the Stuttgart Ballet after the Premiere of Krabat, my first full length ballet.

One of your most unusual or coolest experiences?

Getting my foot stuck between two steps in an escalator when I was about 12. My mom almost fainted but I still have all of my toes!!

Who has been the most influential person/people in your life? or Career? and why?

There are my parents who taught me hard work, honesty and respect. Then came Mavis Staines, Artistic Director of Canada’s National Ballet School, who opened up my mind to the fact that dance was way more than just steps, it’s a language. She also is great to philosophize with today about pretty much anything. And of course Reid Anderson, for seeing in me way more than I ever have and for continuously pushing me further and opening doors for me and for standing by with his giant heart and generosity and his incredibly instinctive knowledge of theater.

Do you have any goals you still wish to achieve?

The main one: find a way to make more people re-connect with our most primal language, namely dance, and through that find ways to improve our existence on this planet by creating more efficient and less polluted channels to communicate with each other.

A question you would like to know the answer to?

Too many to even get started!!

Dear aspiring artists,

Try to see the bigger picture and if you’re going to do something, commit to it one hundred percent!!

— Demis Volpi

 Photo Journal

Demis and I at Noverre 2014!

Hyo-Jung Kang in Aftermath © Ulrich Beuttenmüller

Angelina Zuccarini and Arman Zazyan in Spinto © Stuttgart Ballet

Elisa Badenes in Big Blur © Stuttgart Ballet

Elisa Badenes and David Moore in Krabat © Stuttgart Ballet

Demis Volpi and Reid Anderson on stage after the world premiere of Krabat © Stuttgart Ballet

To find out more information on Demis , check out the Stuttgart Ballet Website. Have you worked with Demis? Have you seen his work? Help me say thank you by sharing your stories in the comments below. Thank YOU for reading!