Roberto Scafati

Now that I am no longer in Stuttgart, I think about how much support and love, Gauthier Dance had around them. It is not always this way in ballet. Roberto is one of the artists, who would oftencome to performances. Roberto is the Director of Ballett Ulm and Ulm is not far from Stuttgart. I always noticed Roberto in the after-show crowd because he was always smiling or seemed to be having a good time. I tend to gravitate toward positive people…it’s just natural for me. I got to know him  and his work over the years and with Roberto, it is always a pleasure..I was right!

I finally got work with Roberto when he came to Gauthier Dance to set his piece “Freistoss”. Freistoss (free kick) is a humorous soccer-themed ballet in slow motion. A public favorite! I enjoyed dancing it a lot. We all had so much fun on stage and the costumes were cool. With that said, It was not an easy piece. To really move in slow motion…well… is not as easy as one would think. We had a lot of dramatic facial expressions, and to execute those in slow motion was a challenge. I definitely had to practice a bit in front of the mirror.

Roberto helped a lot. Working with him in the studio was great. He has a great energy. He always had a positive attitude, and he worked very deeply, explaining every last detail of the movement in hopes to touch the “thing” that makes it real for each dancer.  Whenever he demonstrated, we would all giggle…He was so good at these exaggerated characters it was hard not to laugh. A short but great expierence. It was really nice to work with him. Always nice to work with passionate artists.

Roberto was born in Rome, Italy. He studied at the “Scuola Italiana di Danza” in Rome, and with Rosella Hightower in Cannes. He has danced with Teatro San Carlo, Neapel and the Teatro dell’Opera, in Rome. From 1994-2003 Roberto was a soloist with Ballett Ulm. From 2004-2008 Roberto was the rehearsal director and ballet master at Theater Ulm. As director, Roberto, is also the main choreographer.

Roberto was the second person to give me an interview. I explained the series, I asked him, he said yes, and we did it right there. At that time, Interview En L’air was only 5 questions. I wrote his answers on a piece of paper… in pencil. I was nervous, not well prepared… and he did it anyway. That was almost 2 years ago. I can never express how much those first interviews meant to me. Each one like a boost… Thank you Roberto for believing in Interview En L’air… Thank you for believing in me.

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 study surgery but it did not work.

Roberto’s Favorite Things

Favorite Things to eat?

Lasagne, cannelloni, pennerigatoni…….

Favorite Books?

 The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life,The Secret

Favorite Movies?

The end is my beginning,Green planet ,The green mile.

Favorite Dance Piece or Show/Musical or both?

I like so many pieces that it is difficult to say what is the best.

I like dancers who…

…Who are interested in finding the authenticity of everything they do and are always be in discussion with themselves because you never stop learning,

I am afraid of…

Fear is an emotion that includes a life… the one that makes me sensitive for the things to come. Therefore I am grateful to be able to feel fear. It is important to me that my fears do not guide me!

A dance piece should…

…touch people even when they do not understand what they are seeing.

Something you like to do other your current job?

Spending time with my family and friends, watching a good film.play water polo, and eat well.

One of the happiest moments in your life?

I am a Buddhist, and there are moments when I meditate I feel happiness inside me without a reason and I think that is the real happiness.

One of your most unusual or coolest experiences?

Dancing the Sirtaki with Anthony Quinn at the Opera of Rome

One of the most embarrassing moments in your life?

I was dancing Swan Lake and I fell after my tour en l’air…

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

My family, my family, and my family were always behind me have always given me support and encouraged me… A huge special thanks to my wife.

One of the hardest things about your job?

To be a director and choreographer is not easy because the bureaucracy and creativity do not go together, but I try to divide things.

 Do you have any goals you still wish to achieve?

I believe in cause and effect… I am putting out many causes … and I am very excited to see the effects in the future. Life gives us what we need not what we want.

A question you want to know the answer to:

Why the people are not grateful for what they are and what they have and take it all for granted?

 Dear aspiring artists,

Believe in what you want to do and just do it.

–Roberto Scafati

Photo Journal

To find out more information on Roberto please check out his website. Have you worked with Roberto? Share your stories in the comments below. Thank YOU for reading!