Giuseppe Spota

It was Giuseppe who reminded me that actually the first time I met him was in New York.The company “Aterballetto” came to the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2005. My teacher Alphonse Poulin was teaching company class, and I took class with the company and saw the performance. I got to meet a few of the dancers and Giuseppe was one of them. His English was fresh, but he had a great smile. You know…the kind that makes you smile. A very friendly and warm person. I saw him again when I came to Italy to visit the company. I watched him in class and rehearsal. He was a fantastic dancer and he looked great in the work of Mauro Bigonzetti, the director at the time. As a guest visiting a company, I find it interesting to watch dancers when they are not dancing as well. Everyone Giuseppe spoke to would laugh. You could see that they loved him. He was like this moving ball of positive Energy and laughter. It was fun to watch.

I finally got my chance to laugh and dance with him when he joined Gauthier Dance. The dance world is so small. He was with the company for only one season, but It was a very special time. He brought such a good feeling to the company and It was great to share the stage with him. We got to dance together quite a bit. Watching him dance is inspiring. Giuseppe has an amazing passion. Not only for movement but also improvisation. He is a great artist I already knew he would be a great choreographer if he wanted to be. Sometimes we would improv and joke around in the studio and after I would think…that was quite good stuff he did there. We had a make believe company called “Spota/Braswell” although I prefered the name “Braspota”….eh…I’ll work on it.

Giuseppe Spota born in Bari, Italy, studied at Scuola del Balletto del Sud and at Scuola del Balletto di Toscana. Since 2002 he was dancing with various ensembles like Balletto di Roma, Gruppo Nuova Danza Treviso and with Compagnia Aterballetto under the artistic direction of Mauro Bigonzetti. After dancing for one year 2009/2010 with Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart he joined the ensemble of Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden (D) from 2010/11 until 2013/14 . Among others he danced choreographies by Fabrizio Monteverde, Jiří Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Paul Lightfoot/Sol Leon, Stephan Thoss and Christian Spuck. In 2011 he was awarded the German Theatre Prize THE FAUST as‚ best dancer’ for his interpretation of Stephan Thoss’s Blaubart. That same year, he also won 2nd place at the International Competition for Choreographers in Hannover. Since then Giuseppe has had the opportunity to choreograph throughout Europe. During the Festivals ApuliArte 2012 in Barletta, Italy, Giuseppe won the prize of Premio Internazionale ApuliArte for his foreign achievement.

Thank you Giuseppe for your inspiration! I look forward to us working to together in the future! Thank you for participating.

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?

When I was little I was always thinking to be an artist, painter, architect or a chef of a restaurant…so something completely different of what I’m doing now..but also something
close to it.

Giuseppe’s Favorite Things

Favorite Things to eat?

My favorites things to eat are fish, cheese, the Italian tomatoes with mozzarella and Basilico, pasta and chocolate..a lot of chocolate.

Favorite Books?

The trilogy of Stieg Larsson

Favorite Movies?

Lord Of The Rings, X-men…

Favorite Dance Piece or Show/Musical or both?

Puz/zle from Sidi Larbi

I like dancers who…

…can take different colors each time.

I am afraid of…

…the time..to not have enough time to finish what I’m planning or wishing to do….

A dance piece should…

..bring you to a different world

Something you like to do in your spare time?

painting, searching ideas and inspiration from books, pictures, artists, composers, music, etc.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

I ripped my pants in the middle on stage…several times.

One of the hardest things about your job?

To leave friends and people around you every time that you change a company.

 One of the happiest moments in your life?

When I was dancing and playing football with children in Africa.

 One of your most unusual or coolest experiences?

When I won the Faust award. The whole Faust’s evening.

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

In my career, I would say Stefan Thoss, because of all the opportunities that he has given me… in my life, I would say, my best friend…

Do you have any goals you still wish to achieve?

To have my own company

A question you want to know the answer to?

When I lose my curiosity will I stop searching?

Dear aspiring artists,

Believe in hard work, in your passion and you will
see that everything will come…it might take time, but it will come….and maybe from a different way from what we were thinking

Photo Journal

Have you worked with Giuseppe? Have you seen him perform or seen his work? Help me say thank you by sharing your stories in the comments below. Thank YOU for reading!