Interview with the Kor’sia company, winner of the ‘Vivo d’Arte’ 2021 competition

Kor’sia is a collective, based in Spain, formed by Antonio de Rosa, Mattia Russo and Giuseppe Dagostino. The project was born with the intention of using the body to transcend verbal communication. Their visionary creations incorporate film, photography, literature and sculpture, inviting the public to immerse themselves in real experiences. With the dance piece ‘IGRA’, the collective won the third edition of the ‘Vivo d’Arte 2021‘ competition promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in collaboration with the Fondazione Romaeuropa and dedicated to young Italian artists, under 36 years of age, who have been permanently living abroad for at least one year.

How did the project with which you won the ‘Vivo D’Arte’ competition come about and what is it about?

Scouring, watching, reviewing and analysing the past of dance to bring it into the present, this is the origin of the project. ‘IGRA’ is a dance performance set in a tennis court, conceived as choreographic writing in dialogue with the present and the past. In this project we evoke one of Vaclav Fomič Nižinskij’s lesser-known works, created for the Ballets Russes, but this is not a re-production or re-adaptation of the 1913 Ballet, but a reflection on the moment and historical context that the creator experienced. We approach Nižinsky and his sister Nižinskaya with the sensitivity of our time, contrasting the impositions that artists experienced at the time.

As usual in our work, visual power plays a decisive role.  The piece is full of references that appear in a subtle and intermittent way. We see the entire performance through a translucent black veil that creates a sense of distance that is not physical, but temporal. An effect reminiscent of old photographs from the beginning of the last century. There are constant blackouts that lead the viewer to question the concept of human and animal, male and female, thus building a photographic structure that engages the viewer in a succession of suggestive and surreal images.

Its electronic music is akin to the rhythms of Russian dances, and the inclusion of Chopin, a Polish composer, seems to be a reminder that, although Nižinskij was born in Kiev and his sister Nižinskaja in Minsk, their family was Polish and they did not consider themselves Russian.

What does it mean for a company like Kor’sia to win this competition?

We are a constantly growing company, and the support of our country is very important to us. Even though we have lived in Spain for a long time, we like to build strong relationships with institutions and bring our productions to Italian theatres. The aim of the project is to bring together media and collaborators to produce a quality, sustainable, international product involving professionals from multiple artistic disciplines. The ‘Vivo d’Arte 2021’ award allows us to make our proposal more solid. We appreciate this recognition and believe that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with other Spanish and European supporters, gives greater visibility to our artistic journey.

Kor’sia is a company of young Italians who live and work successfully in Spain. Is the Europe of dance united? How does the world of contemporary Italian dance look from your particular vantage point?

Yes, the Europe of dance is united and this recognition is an example of this. Currently in Italy and Europe, dance, as a contemporary art, is embedded in evolving cultural structures and projects. It is easy for us to find theatres, festivals, European competitions and spaces that are suitable and usable for our artistic practice. We manage to apply our research experience to a coherent and organic programme, helping the spectator to discover the contemporary.  The world of Italian contemporary dance is constantly evolving, we are watching this process very carefully and hope for continuous improvement.