Five thousand miles is a long way to be from home. When you’re this far away, especially for years at a time, you may find yourself searching for that something that will always keep you connected. For dance artist Riccardo Battaglia, that something comes from within. It is an undeniable light and joy – a warmth forever fueled by the sunshine he carries with him from his home in Italy. Since making the solo move from Pescara, Italy to New York City just over seven years ago, Riccardo’s career has blossomed in tandem with his incredible talent. And if the height of his leg extension is any indication of things to come, the sky is the limit. His career has spanned from commercial work to international company tours – all sparked by an opportunity to train on full scholarship at the prestigious Ailey School. DancerMusic’s Kristi Licera talked to Riccardo about his journey from Italy to the States and the adventure in dance that ultimately led to his home away from home at Visceral Dance Chicago. Here’s what he told us:
________________________________________
Kristi: In January of 2011, you received a full scholarship to The Ailey School, which prompted you to move from Italy to NYC. Can you talk about your journey to the states, and how you eventually found a home with Visceral Dance Chicago?
Riccardo: When I was 17 and in one of the various competitions I attended in Italy, I was offered a scholarship for the Ailey School summer intensive. I still remember that day; I couldn’t believe I was finally going to travel to New York City! Through movies, TV shows and books I had always dreamed about living there.
I was so excited when I found out I was given a full scholarship. At the age of 19 I packed my bags and moved from Pescara (a small beach town in Italy) to the Big Apple.
At the summer program, I totally fell in love with the atmosphere and the dance training I was able to experience. That made me decide to audition again for the full school year, and I was so excited when I found out I was given a full scholarship. At the age of 19 I packed my bags and moved from Pescara (a small beach town in Italy) to the Big Apple.
It took me a while to adjust. I was young and had to quickly learn how to live on my own. I didn’t really speak the language and the city goes at a much faster speed than I was used to. But eventually things got better, and I can say I lived an unforgettable, beautiful couple of months.
My life in New York continued and over the years I moved apartments, changed dance jobs, worked in restaurants, taught many students and met lots of people. I was about to celebrate my 6-year anniversary when I found out that Visceral Dance Chicago was looking for a male dancer. I was still a huge fan of NYC, but I felt like I was ready for a change of energy, I needed something new and fresh. So, I submitted an audition video and had a Skype interview with the Visceral Dance Chicago’s Artistic Director, Nick Pupillo. A couple of days later I was offered a contract for the company, and in two weeks I packed all my stuff and came to the Windy City.
Kristi: Your career in dance has spanned from commercial work to concert dance – full-time company positions to freelancing. Can you share some of the highlights and why these projects or performances stood out to you? What advice would you give dancers aspiring to have a career with this much diversity?
My biggest advice is never stop training. Go and take class with teachers that you know and don’t know. It helps expanding your dance knowledge and helps build connections with people.
Riccardo: Growing up I trained in different styles and techniques, and never had a “favorite”. The discipline and regal nature of ballet, the energy of jazz, the variety you get in contemporary or those emotions you live in a Horton and Graham class – I did love them all. I had the fortune thus far to dance for different companies (with a big variety of styles) and to be signed with one of the biggest talent agencies, MSA New York.
There are so many moments that I vividly remember. Each stood out for many different reasons… It’s so hard to pick! First is when I got to perform in Italy while I was touring with Ailey II. My whole family was there, and saw me dance “Sinner Man”, one of the sections in Mr. Ailey’s masterpiece, Revelations, which is one of the most fun male variations to dance. Another company I danced for in New York was Jennifer Muller The Works. With them I got to perform in Beijing – who would have ever thought I was going to be on a stage in China!?
I got to perform in Italy while I was touring with Ailey II. My whole family was there, and saw me dance “Sinner Man”, one of the sections in Mr. Ailey’s masterpiece, Revelations
To add one more, I would definitely mention being part of the KenzoxH&M runway show in 2016. It was a huge event with more than 50 dancers, choreographed by Ryan Heffington. Celebrities were there – all the eyes were on us and it was the most energy I’ve ever felt in a performance. Waking up the next day seeing photos of me on Vogue and other fashion magazines was pretty cool!
My biggest advice is never stop training. Go and take class with teachers that you know and don’t know. It helps expanding your dance knowledge and helps build connections with people.
Kristi: You’ve also recently gone down the choreographic path. What projects have you completed so far, and how does that work speak to your choreographic aesthetic and trajectory as a dance creator?
I started practicing my choreography skills when I was younger – mostly on me and my friends – with solos and duets. About two years ago I was asked to create works for a dance studio in Houston, TX on their students; I will always be grateful for that opportunity. It was the beginning of a personal journey on finding my own dance voice.
I’m really intrigued by sociology and anthropology and I find a lot of daily inspiration in human beings.
I got the chance to choreograph my first work on professional dancers at Visceral Dance Chicago. We have a show every season that presents works by the company dancers. It was an incredible experience that brought so much inspiration for me and my future as a choreographer. The piece I choreographed is titled Ritmo di Casa. It was inspired by my country and my friends that still are living back home in Italy. I used Italian music and mixed some of the Italian folklore into my choreography. I’m really intrigued by sociology and anthropology and I find a lot of daily inspiration in human beings.
I don’t really have any goals as a choreographer right now, I’m just going to see what happens as I move on with my dancer career. I do enjoy it a lot and maybe one day I will want to choreograph for bigger companies, one step at the time.
Kristi: Like many dance artists, you also share your talents and insights through teaching, currently at Visceral Dance Center and The Joffrey Academy. What is it about your philosophy of dance and teaching that your students respond to most? What would you say to those of all ages who are on the fence about experiencing dance?
Riccardo: I had the chance to teach all different ages through the years, from babies to teenagers to adults. But no matter what level my students are, I believe that dance is a great mix of discipline, hard work and most importantly lots of fun!
The purpose of class is to get better at this beautiful art that we love to do. The dance studio is where you make mistakes: you fall, you mess up, you try again and again and again.
I always tell my students that you are in class to learn. Nobody is judging you. The purpose of class is to get better at this beautiful art that we love to do. The dance studio is where you make mistakes: you fall, you mess up, you try again and again and again.
Repetition – that’s one of the points that I often bring up. Dance is repetition! I’ve been taking classes for almost twenty years now and I still start every day doing demi, demi, grand plie…
Kristi: Next up for you is a performance in Visceral Dance Chicago’s The Dream at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, featuring the Chicago Philharmonic. This work, choreographed by VDC Artistic Director, Nick Pupillo, debuted in March 2017 and was the first major work that you performed with the company and in Chicago. What is it like to revisit this piece a year later?
Riccardo: The Dream was the very first show I performed with the company. We started the creative process my first day of work. I was in a different time of my life; I didn’t know the other dancers as much as I do now, and it was my first week in a new city. I feel a difference approaching the show now that I’m a year older and I have had new experiences.
You get to dig even deeper because you’re free of the pressure of the premiere. If you did it once, you can definitely do it again, right?
It’s so nice to revisit movement that you had the chance to perform on stage. You get to dig even deeper because you’re free of the pressure of the premiere. If you did it once, you can definitely do it again, right? In the work, I partner with Paige Fraser. It’s beautiful to redo choreography after all these months now that both our dance and personal relationship has evolved. I’m excited to perform those duets with her again on stage!
We also have four new dancers this season, and teaching them the choreography is very helpful for those who were in the original cast. We can clean musicality and transitions. Nick provides a video of the show we can all watch and perfect any passages that didn’t work so well the first time around.
________________________________________
Visceral Dance Chicago will be at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie Sunday, April 28 at 3pm. Tickets are available online or at the NSPCA Box Office by calling (847) 679-9501.
For more on Riccardo, visit his YouTube channel and follow @riccardo_battaglia on Instagram.
