A tribute to one of ballet’s most famous – and challenging – steps

Grand jeté, or the grand split in the air, is considered one of the most impressive and virtuosic steps in the art of ballet. As an attempt to defy gravity, the grand jeté is a transitional step consisting of a momentary suspension, followed by a “throw” of oneself into the air.

In ‘GRAND JETÉ’, the award-winning Italian choreographer Silvia Gribaudi, together with MM Contemporary Dance Company directed by Michele Merola, explores the metaphorical significance of the historic step.

For more than two decades, the choreographer has researched the social significance of the body, focusing on the relationship between performers and the audience, often infused with a comedic element. By placing one of ballet’s most explosive movements in an everyday context, ‘GRAND JETÉ’ opens up the possibility to challenge and rebel against the seemingly irreversible nature of any action.

What efforts underlie one of the world’s most challenging steps? How do we handle potential failure and take flight again? Can we simply give it another go?

In this performance, Gribaudi herself takes the stage alongside 10 younger dancers. “It is the young people who can make the whole of humanity take a leap,” explains the choreographer, “which is why I have chosen a company of young people who have the passion and desire to take us to other worlds, starting with a grand plié, but all together to arrive at a GRAND JETÉ!”

Silvia Gribaudi is an Italian choreographer who also specialises in  performing arts in general. 

Since 2004 she has focused her research on the social impact of  bodies, having set at the centre of her choreographic language  the comic element and the relationship between audience and  performers. 

Award-winner of the Premio Giovane Danza D’Autore with her  piece “A CORPO LIBERO”(2009), finalist at the Premio UBU for  best dance show and finalist at the Premio Rete Critica award with  R.OSA (2017), winner of the Premio CollaborAction#4 2018-2019, finalist at the Premio Rete Critica 2019, winner of the Premio DANZA&DANZA 2019 for best Italian production with the piece  

GRACES. 

She has taken part in several artistic research projects, including:  CHOREOROAM (2011), TRIPTYCH (2013), ACT YOUR AGE (2014) – an EU project about active ageing through the art of dance, which inspired the performance WHAT AGE ARE YOU ACTING?, as well as the community project OVER 60; PERFORMING GENDER (2015); CORPO LINKS CLUSTER (2019/2020), where the connection of dance, the mountains, and the mountain community gave life to the site specific project TREKKING COREOGRAFICO (choreographic trekking) and to the piece MONJOUR (2021), produced by Torinodanza Festival in collaboration with Teatro Stabile del Veneto and Brussels’s Les Halles de Schaerbeek. 

In 2021 she was a guest choreographer at “Danser Encore, 30 solos pour 30 danseurs”, a project for the Opéra de Lyon. 

Her shows have been featured in a number of national and international festivals and are the result of a creative process.

https://youtu.be/4KiYnFHV39c?si=sENRoU-W-1RMyz6G

Choreography: Silvia Gribaudi

Dancers: Silvia Gribaudi and MM Contemporary Dance Company: Filippo Begnozzi, Lorenzo Fiorito, Mario Genovese, Matilde Gherardi, Fabiana Leonardo, Giorgia Raffetto, Alice Ruspaggiari, Rossana Samele, Nicola Stasi, Giuseppe Villarosa

Music: Matteo Franceschini

Light Design: Luca Serafini

Styling: Ettore Lombardi

Assistant Choreographer: Paolo Lauri

Rehearsal Director: Enrico Morelli

Dramaturgical Consultant: Annette Van Zwoll

Artistic Collaboration: Matteo Maffesanti

Technical Advice: Leonardo Benetollo

Creative Producer: Mauro Danesi

Produced by: Associazione Culturale Zebra (IT)

Co-produced by: MM Contemporary Dance Company (IT), La Biennale de Lyon (FR), Théâtre de la Ville (FR), Rum för Dans (SE), National Theatre Brno within Theatre World Festival Brno (CZ), BPDA Big Pulse Dance Alliance: Torinodanza Festival (IT), International Dance Festival TANEC PRAHA (CZ), Zodiak – Side Step Festival (FI) Artistic residency Centro di Residenza Emilia-Romagna (L’Arboreto-Teatro Dimora | La Corte Ospitale) With the support of MiC – Ministero della Cultura, Italian Ministry of Cultural Affairs

Photo: Andrea Macchia