In Blanca Li’s pared-down staging, bathed in Pascal Laajili’s lighting, ten dancers interpret the myth of Dido and Aeneas in a resolutely contemporary form. Emotions and body language take precedence over the narrative to create a soaring, poetic and dense work. The recorded music, performed by Les Arts Florissants, lends a dramatic and extraordinarily lively dimension to the piece, accompanying Blanca Li’s sinuous, supple and ethereal choreography.
Voices and dancing are constantly interwoven, and the dancers merge naturally and gracefully, sometimes acting as shadows of the voices, embodying the feelings of the characters, who thus possess several bodies, each expressing itself in its own way. The staging is full of fantasy and freedom, playing on the comic and tragic aspects of the libretto. The choreography is sinuous, supple, aerial and athletic, full of ideas, images, humor, cheekiness and color, reinforced by the power of the lighting and set design. Blanca Li has freed herself from any sense of realism in relation to the text, allowing herself the freedom to address the symbolism and power of emotions in a resolutely contemporary set of images.
direction and choreography Blanca Li
assistant directors and choreography Glyslein Lefever, Déborah Torres Garguilo
set design Blanca Li
assistant set designer Nina Coulais
recorded music Les Arts Florissants - William Christie
light design Pascal Laajili
lighting assistants Jean-Luc Passarelli, Boris Pijetlovic
costume design Laurent Mercier
costumes assistant Ghjulia Giusti Muselli
with Martina Consoli, Alizée Duvernois (Didon), Coline Fayolle (Belinda), Meggie Isabet, Maeva Lassere, Julien Marie-Anne (Sorcière),Quentin Picot, Gaël Rougegrez, Gaétan Vermeulen, Victor Virnot (Enée).
production Calentito - Compagnie Blanca Li
Italian premiere
INFORMATION
The show features partial nude scenes.
Ticket holders for one or more performances at the Roman Theatre may collect a corresponding number of free admission tickets to the National Archaeological Museum and Roman Theatre of Spoleto at the following locations:
• Festival Box Office & Merchandising
Via Saffi 12 – open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; from 23 June: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; from 28 June: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Festival Box Office Teatro Nuovo Gian Carlo Menotti
Via Vaita Sant’Andrea 12 – open from 27 June to 13 July 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. (closed on Mondays)
• Theatre box offices – open from one hour before the start of each performance.
Please note that dates and times may change.
For updates consult the website www.festivaldispoleto.com
Blanca Li is a renowned choreographer, dancer, actress, and director whose groundbreaking work has shaped the international performing arts landscape. In 2019, she was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts and served as the director of Teatros del Canal in Madrid from November 2019 to December 2023. In June 2024, she was appointed president of the Parc and Grande Halle de la Villette, one of France’s most prestigious cultural institutions. Born in Granada, Andalusia, Blanca Li began her artistic journey as a rhythmic gymnast, joining Spain’s national team at just 12 years old. At 17, she moved to New York to study modern dance under Martha Graham, immersing herself in the city's dynamic cultural scene and discovering the vibrant world of hip-hop. Upon returning to Europe, she founded her own contemporary dance company in Paris in 1992, captivating global audiences with her bold and innovative productions. Among her most celebrated creations is Le Bal de Paris de Blanca Li, which premiered in 2021 at the Théâtre National de Chaillot and was awarded the Leone d’Oro for Best VR Experience at the 78th Venice International Film Festival. This groundbreaking production merges live dance and virtual reality, transporting audiences into a dreamlike world where real dancers interact with a digital universe. After a four-month run at Théâtre Le Palace in Paris, the show embarked on a worldwide tour. In 2022, for the Festival Suresnes Cités Danse, she reimagined The Nutcracker through an exhilarating hip-hop adaptation, blending breakdance, popping, and Spanish dance influences. Performed by a cast of eight exceptional Spanish dancers, the production is currently touring internationally. Over the years, Blanca Li has choreographed and directed numerous ballets, operas, and musicals, including Les Indes Galantes and Shéhérazade for the Paris Opera Ballet, Treemonisha for the Théâtre du Châtelet, El Quijote del Plata for the Ballet Nacional Sodre of Uruguay, and most recently, Pulcinella for the Spanish National Ballet. As a filmmaker, she has directed three feature films (Le Défi, Pas à Pas, and Elektromathematix), along with several short films, music videos, and commercials. Her creative vision has led to collaborations with some of the most influential figures in film, music, and fashion, including Pedro Almodóvar, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Michel Gondry, and artists such as Daft Punk, Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Blur, and Coldplay. She has also worked with legendary designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Azzedine Alaïa, CHANEL, Stella McCartney, and, more recently, Christian Louboutin. Blanca Li continues to reinvent the language of dance, pushing artistic boundaries and leaving an indelible mark on the global performing arts scene.
Sydney Dance Company, Rafael Bonachela
Circa, Franui Musicbanda
Fattoria Vittadini, Maura Di Vietri
Shahar Binyamini
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