Performance Curator Portfolio

Homo Duplex is a contemporary dance performance that explores the endless and necessary dialogue between two interconnected and still conflicting components of the self.

Inspired by the theory of Emile Durkheim, the performance follows the journey of two factors representing integral elements emerging from a forgotten previous dialogue.

Lost and searching for something elusive, the elements find each other and realize they are two halves of a whole. Their movements reflect a deep longing for connection and understanding as they engage in a poignant dialogue, unlocking memories of their shared existence.

As they navigate obstacles and challenges, they discover the significance of collaboration and harmony in their journey towards self-realization. With each step forward, they gain insight into the cyclical nature of their quest, acknowledging that true fulfillment lies in embracing their intrinsic connection.

In a moment of clarity, they understand that the dialogue between their inner selves is both endless and necessary. As the dialogue concludes, they return to the beginning, ready to embark on this eternal journey once again, guided by the profound understanding that their communication is essential to their existence.

Homo Duplex invites audiences to contemplate the importance of connection, communication, listening, and the ongoing pursuit of self-discovery in the intricate tapestry of human experience.

CREDITS
Performance curator: Melania DC
Dancers: Marta Bianchi, Teresa Royo
Costume designer: Laetitia de Veth
Music editor: Sofia Martin Shinoda
Dramaturgy: Melania DC, Sofia Martin Shinoda
Location Manager: Jolanda Lanslots
Special thanks to: NDSM Fuse, Cinetone collective

Estate (Summer) is a captivating dance video project directed, choreographed, and curated by me, where the fleeting nature of summer is portrayed as a dreamlike experience. Filmed entirely in black and white to evoke a sense of nostalgia and unreality, the video explores the idea that summer is a season where anything can happen—passionate loves are born, hearts are broken, and moments of pure joy and freedom are lived to the fullest.

As the dance unfolds, the black-and-white imagery alludes to the ephemeral quality of these experiences, emphasizing that just like a dream, summer is fleeting. When the season ends, the dream vanishes, and reality returns with the impending arrival of winter. The snow of winter, cold and unyielding, symbolically covers the remnants of summer’s romances, leaving only memories in its wake.

Estate invites viewers to reflect on the bittersweet beauty of summer—a time of intense emotions and possibilities that ultimately gives way to the inevitable passage of time and the return of reality.
Through evocative choreography and striking visual contrasts, the project captures the essence of a season that, like a dream, is both enchanting and transient.

CREDITS
Choreographer and dramaturg: Melania Delli Compagni
Performance Curator: Melania Delli Compagni
Co-choreographer and assistant Production: Sara Spiro
Dancers: Elisa Nania, Ludovic Cimmino, Melania Delli Compagni, Sara Franzil, Sara Spiro
Camera and Film Editor: Marlis Andrea De Angelis

As the first light of dawn breaks over the Adriatic coast, a serene beach becomes the stage for a mesmerizing performance that marries the power of nature with the art of dance, music, and poetry. Against the backdrop of a vibrant sunrise, two dancers and a violinist come to life, their movements and melodies reflecting the hues of the awakening landscape.

The performers, their flowing costumes mirroring the pastel colors of the sky, move in harmony with the gentle waves, embodying the rhythmic ebb and flow of the water. The violinist’s music, delicate yet powerful, intertwines with the sound of the waves, creating a symphony that echoes the natural world.

As the sun rises higher, a voice recites poetry, its words weaving through the air like a gentle breeze. The verses speak of renewal, resilience, and the enduring strength of the human spirit—a reminder of our capacity to restart, much like the daily rebirth of the sun and the relentless return of the waves to the shore.

Dawn and breath is a celebration of the power of nature and art to heal and inspire. It is a tribute to Italy’s resilience in the face of the pandemic, a symbolic gesture of hope and renewal. As the performance unfolds, it invites the audience to reflect on the beauty of each new beginning, the strength found in unity, and the eternal dance between nature and humanity.

CREDITS
Choreographers and dancers: Chiasmo (Melania Delli Compagni, Sara Spiro)
Violinist: Ingrid Ranalli
Voice and text: Vincenzo Martino
Performance Curator: Melania Delli Compagni