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questionnaire - dancers' edition

Anna Rose O’Sullivan answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

14 February 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Anna Rose O'Sullivan as Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty - photo by Helen Maybanks ROH 2019-crop

When did you start dancing? I started dancing around the age of 4 and I instantly fell in love with ballet. As a young child I would put performances on for my family using the fireplace hearth as … [Read more...] about Anna Rose O’Sullivan answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Virna Toppi answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

6 April 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Virna Toppi as Kitri, photo by Brescia e Amisano ©Teatro alla Scala

Q&A When did you start dancing?Immediately, as soon as I could stand. Why did you start dancing?Because I liked to feel at one with the music. Which dancer inspired you most as a child?No … [Read more...] about Virna Toppi answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Yasmine Naghdi answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

17 November 2020 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Yasmine Naghdi prepares for Gamzatti, photo by Dasa Wharton

When did you start dancing?Aged 2, on our coffee table at home. Why did you start dancing?To satisfy my urge to move all the time. I really had “ants in my pants”! Which dancer inspired you most … [Read more...] about Yasmine Naghdi answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Darcey Bussell answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

23 May 2020 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Darcey Bussell Dances Hollywood

Q&A When did you start dancing? At 5, in the Mercury Theatre behind where I lived in Notting Hill. Ballet Rambert used to use the studios as well. Why did you start dancing? I had knocked … [Read more...] about Darcey Bussell answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Alessandro Macario answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

3 November 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Alessandro Macario in Coppélia by Roland Petit, Teatro San Carlo

Q&A   in italiano When did you start dancing? I started dancing when I was four. Why did you start dancing? My uncle was a dancer and ran a ballet school, so I’m sure that I began dancing … [Read more...] about Alessandro Macario answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Martina Arduino answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

17 June 2019 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Martina Arduino in Romeo and Juliet, photo Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala

Q&A in italiano When did you start dancing? I started dancing for fun when I was four, and more seriously when I was 11 after I was accepted to the Ballet School of La Scala’s Academy. Why … [Read more...] about Martina Arduino answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Isaac Hernández answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

7 February 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

On holiday in Tulum, Mexico

Q&A When did you start dancing? I was 8 years old. My father was teaching me in the backyard of our house. Why did you start dancing? We are a big family — 11 children — my parents had only … [Read more...] about Isaac Hernández answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Jeffrey Cirio answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

11 January 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Jeffrey Cirio by Karolina Kuras crop

Q&A When did you start dancing? I started dancing right around the age of nine. Why did you start dancing? My sister, Lia, was a student at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Our family had … [Read more...] about Jeffrey Cirio answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Laurretta Summerscales answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

24 April 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Laurretta Summerscales as Olga in Onegin with Jonah Cook at Bayerisches Staatsballett, photo by Wilfried Hösl

Q&A When did you start dancing? I started dancing at the age of 3 at my mothers dancing school Why did you start dancing? My mother wanted to give me as many opportunities in life to see what … [Read more...] about Laurretta Summerscales answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Julien Favreau answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

24 March 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Dionysos with Julien Favreau and Kateryna Shalkina, Shanghai 2012, photo Favreau

Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was about 7, in a very small ballet school in France where we were only 4 boys! Why did you start dancing? Maybe because my uncle was a DJ and I wanted … [Read more...] about Julien Favreau answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Casey Herd answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

5 June 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Nepal

Q&A  When did you start dancing? I started at the age of 10. Why did you start dancing? At first it was because my mom talked me into it. Which dancer inspired you most as a … [Read more...] about Casey Herd answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

István Simon answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

21 January 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

István Simon at Nijinsky's grave

Q&A When did you start dancing? I started when I was 12. Why did you start dancing? I had severe heart rhythm problems and my doctor suggested me to dance as therapy for my disease. He … [Read more...] about István Simon answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Anaïs Chalendard answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

30 December 2016 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Anaïs Chalendard zoom

Q&A When did you start dancing? I started taking "ballet" class when I was very little; about 4 years old. But I think I really started proper classes when I turned 6 or 7. Why did you … [Read more...] about Anaïs Chalendard answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Abdiel Cedric Jacobsen answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… dancers’ edition

8 November 2016 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Abdiel Cedric Jacobsen   photo by Brigid Pierce

Q&A When did you start dancing? I began dancing when I was in the womb, taught informally by my mother through the blood memory of her ancestors. My mom is Ivorian - from Côte d'Ivoire - and … [Read more...] about Abdiel Cedric Jacobsen answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… dancers’ edition

Andrey Ermakov answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

7 September 2016 by Gramilano 8 Comments

Q&A   [на русском языке] When did you start dancing? I do not remember… probably at the same time that I began to walk. Why did you start dancing? As a child my mother dreamt of the … [Read more...] about Andrey Ermakov answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Vladimir Shklyarov answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

7 August 2016 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Q&A   [на русском языке] When did you start dancing? I’ve suffered since childhood — my Mum wanted me to do it. Why did you start dancing? Because I was forced to… I didn’t want … [Read more...] about Vladimir Shklyarov answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Peter Wright answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dance Edition

15 July 2016 by Gramilano 5 Comments

Q&A When did you start dancing? Not until I was 16, as an apprentice with the Ballets Jooss. Why did you start dancing? I was always good at ballroom, and then my mother took me to see … [Read more...] about Peter Wright answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dance Edition

Alexander Campbell answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

8 July 2016 by Gramilano 5 Comments

Q&A When did you start dancing? I started dancing aged 5. Why did you start dancing? My Grandmother was teaching at a ballet school at the time and apparently I showed an interest after … [Read more...] about Alexander Campbell answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Derek Deane answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dance Edition

2 July 2016 by Gramilano 8 Comments

Derek Deane

Q&A When did you start dancing? I was nearly 16. Late... I never had any intention of becoming a ballet dancer. Why did you start dancing? So that I could play the Artful Dodger in a local … [Read more...] about Derek Deane answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dance Edition

Viktorina Kapitonova answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

18 March 2016 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? I was dancing at home the whole time as a young child, my mum sent me with my sister to the house of the arts, where children could audition to study all … [Read more...] about Viktorina Kapitonova answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Agnes Oaks answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

2 December 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? I started ballet at considerably late age, when I was already 10 years old. Why did you start dancing? It was my mother's idea for me to try this profession. … [Read more...] about Agnes Oaks answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Pompea Santoro answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

6 October 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A   in italiano When did you start dancing? In a gym near our house when I was seven-years-old. Why did you start dancing? It was something my mother wanted me to do, and she took … [Read more...] about Pompea Santoro answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Lisa-Maree Cullum answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

2 September 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 3. Why did you start dancing? My mum had a ballet school and when I saw the other children moving to music I couldn’t help myself. Which … [Read more...] about Lisa-Maree Cullum answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Mathilde Froustey answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

4 June 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? I started at the age of 10 in my hometown Dax, near Bordeaux in southwest France. I was hyperactive so my mother had me do as many activities as I possibly … [Read more...] about Mathilde Froustey answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Herman Cornejo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

20 May 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? I was 8 years old. It was a normal day when my sister's teacher, Wasil Tupin, saw me at the door. I was enjoying the music and watching my sister dance to the … [Read more...] about Herman Cornejo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Ludmila Pagliero answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

7 February 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 9 years old. Why did you start dancing? Because I was always moving as a child and I had to do something with my body. I asked my mom and she … [Read more...] about Ludmila Pagliero answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Francesca Hayward answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

3 January 2015 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 3 years old. My grandparents didn't know how to keep me occupied so they bought a video of The Nutcracker on a whim and that was it, I was happy … [Read more...] about Francesca Hayward answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Claudio Coviello answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

28 December 2014 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Q&A   in italiano When did you start dan­cing? When I was 5. Why did you start dan­cing? During the summer holiday with my family there was a group of dancers on the beach and I … [Read more...] about Claudio Coviello answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Bridgett Zehr answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

23 November 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 7 years old. Why did you start dancing? I was part of the free lunch program at school and my sister and I got a flyer about a ballet school … [Read more...] about Bridgett Zehr answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Nicoletta Manni answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

18 November 2014 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Q&A   in italiano When did you start dancing? I started when I was tiny. Why did you start dancing? It started as a game: my mother had a dancing school and I was always asking if I … [Read more...] about Nicoletta Manni answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

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GRAMILANO

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan, aka ‘Gramilano’. 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. He wrote the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

Since 2022, Gramilano is pleased to welcome guest authors: Alisa Alekseeva, Paul Arrowsmith, Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Jonathan Gray, Marina Harss, Matthew Paluch, Jann Parry, Graham Watts, and Deborah Weiss.

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