Giulia, choreographer and director, founded the Kataklò Athletic Dance Theatre company in 1995 and has, from that date, been its artistic director. She ended her athletics career as rhythmic gymnastics champion (Los Angeles ’84, Seoul ‘88), and moved to New York to study dance at the Alvin Ailey Studios. Here she confirmed her powers of interpretation and went on to become a member of the Momix company where, for three years, she focused on experimentation as she pursued professional growth under the guidance of Moses Pendleton.
It was from this experience that the Kataklò project emerged with its distinctive choreographic style based on an intense study of gesture and all forms of body language. The end result was a new approach to what is internationally known as physical theatre and has been highly acclaimed by both critics and the public.
Staccioli’s artistic endeavors have received many prestigious awards and she has often been invited to take part in highly important public events. For the Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics she designed the impressive five-circle structure, icon of the Games and homage to the Olympic spirit. For the 60th Sicilian Regional Assembly she created the Luci e Ombre (Light and Shadows) choreography, projected onto the walls of the Norman Palace before President Napolitano in June 2007.
Her creativeness is the main driver of the independent repertory company Kataklò which has reaped success for over the last ten years. It represents an alternative to large productions and clearly demonstrates the fact that there is dance scene in Italy fully able to fill theatres throughout the world with its own productions.
The hallmark of Kataklo style has been, from the very start, the extreme athletic prowess and outstanding dance techniques of its company members. It takes a highly versatile artist and a strenuous training period of six to twelve months to become a full member of the company. The dancers study and rehearse six to eight hours a day in a large structure just out of Milan. Giulia Staccioli’s creative method, centers on guiding the dancers as she involves them directly in the choreographic creation process. A seminal artistic idea is developed over very many sessions of improvisation, thus stimulating each individual performer’s experimental and inventive talents.
