Italy’s PM Matteo Renzi and Carla Fracci… step in step?
What have Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, and Italian Ballet Icon, Carla Fracci got in common?
Well, they were colleagues when Renzi was the Mayor of Florence and Fracci was (and still is) responsible for the Culture department of the Florence Province. But now they have a hash tag in common too.
La Fracci, who is largely computer illiterate and doesn’t have a website or a Facebook page, certainly doesn’t foray into the world of Twitter. Renzi, on the other hand, is extremely web-savvy, and a regular tweeter. After a declaration yesterday with his imminent plans to ‘unblock’ Italy and simplify its legendary burocratic processes, he launched the hash tag #passodopopasso – step after step – which just happens to be the title of Fracci’s new autobiography.
Certainly taking step after step, whether running a country or learning to dance, is a fairly sound principle, as long as you can identify the right moment to go for the jeté. Renzi, who has been criticised by many for trying to do too much too soon – running before he can walk – maybe is trying to moderate his pace.
Is Fracci offering lessons?
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
