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Biography Since Desfigurat (1985) Cesc Gelabert has created over twenty-five company works and various solos for himself. The company developed its activities as an international contemporary dance company, based in Barcelona. The company has been associated with Teatre Lliure, Barcelona since 1987 and since 2003 is the resident company, co producing and presenting the new productions. Hebbel Theater, also was a major co producer and partner during a long and fruitful period; enabled the company to realize many projects, and introduce the works of Gelabert to Berlin. Gelabert Azzopardi has functioned as an autonomous and independent structure, receiving support and funding from the Catalan Autonomous Government, the City of Barcelona, and the Ministry of Culture, Madrid.
Choreographer and solo performer Gelabert sets the style by his personal vision of movement. His concepts are adapted and worked on the dancer, without losing the personal identity of the performer. In selecting the dancers, the performers are recruited from different backgrounds with a strong technical vocabulary. Gelabert lays emphasis on the authenticity of movement and interpretation. The choreographies are based on and inspired by various themes. They do not tell a linear story. The company has earned a high reputation through the years, and therefore has achieved large and diverse audiences. The aim is to create quality, and bring dance to the widest audiences possible.
CESC GELABERT (Barcelona) Choreographer /Dancer Gelabert is one of the most influential Spanish choreographers and dancers of the moment. An emblematic and highly versatile artist, he has made a notable contribution towards the creation of a dance culture in Spain. Dancer choreographer and director. Cesc Gelabert was born in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). He began his dance studies in 1969 when a girlfriend brought him into contact with Ana Maleras’s studio, where she was taking classes. Soon he was a part of Maleras’s group, studying jazz, contemporary and other techniques, while starting to experiment with his choreography. His dedication to football continued, and every weekend he would still play as captain of his team. Simultaneously, he was a student of Architecture at University in Barcelona, almost completing his studies, but decided to become a dancer. Cesc Gelabert was an architecture student, commencing his dance studies with Anna Maleras, joining her group in 1969. In 1972, Gelabert created his first choreography; followed by his first solo Accio 0, in collaboration with F.Amat, later to be performed at Teatre Lliure, Barcelona; while performing some evenings in cabaret, and taking jazz and contemporary classes with visiting teachers. His favourite teacher being Matt Mattox, with whom he took classes in London. Returning to Barcelona he formed his first dance group, whose début production was entitled Ver-estiu-altumne-ivern-1, a work for seven performers. 1976 was the year of his first performance at the Teatre Lliure. In 1978 he decided to go to New York, and had first-hand contact with the New York dance scene. He decided to stay for two years. While working during the day doing various jobs, in the evenings he started creating group works with postmodern dancers, and new solos for himself. My old corduroy suit was to be his first New York solo, and was presented at the Kitchen theatre, to good reception, enabling him to be an active member of the New York dance community. In 1980, returning to Barcelona, he began to collaborate with dancer Lydia Azzopardi, performing throughout Spain and festivals in France and Italy. Their early base was La Fabrica, a significant dance venue in Barcelona, directed by Toni Gelabert. 1985 Gelabert Azzopardi founded the company, presenting Desfigurat , their first dance production for a large stage. The company was firmly established and based in Barcelona. Simultaneously, Fabiá Puigserver, the founder and director of Teatre Lliure, invited the company to become associates, enabling Gelabert Azzopardi to co produce with the theatre, and present the works for extended periods of time. 1987 and 1988 two more works were created and shown at the Lliure, Verdi’s Requiem and Belmonte, to an original score composed by Carlos Santos, whom Gelabert had collaborated with in New York. Stage design and costumes by the artist Frederic Amat. Both these works became emblematic pieces in the history of dance in Spain. The Company toured extensively in Spain and major International Festivals in Latin America and Europe. Cesc Gelabert developed an idiom closely in the association of a very personal style and a powerful presence as a soloist, performing internationally. As the company expanded, the choreographic language acquired a homogenous style. The dancers were recruited from different backgrounds, with solid technical preparation. The vocabulary being pure dance form. In conjunction with the company, Gelabert continued creating solos for himself, collaborating with artists from all medias. During the late eighties, while performing at Festival Aix en Provence, he met Nele Hertling, director of Hebbel Theater, Berlin. This was to be the beginning of a long and extensive relationship of the Company as co-residents with the Hebbel Theater, until 2003. During this long period between Barcelona and Berlin, he met and discovered the work of German choreographer, Gerhard Bohner. There was a bonding, both being solo performers, and both having seen each other’s work. After Bohner’s death in 1992, Gelabert decided to take the task of learning Im Goldenen Schnitt I /II from Cosima Santoro’s video footage, and to perform the two solos. Im Goldenen Schnitt I was soon being presented on international stages in major festivals, to successful acclaim. Undeniably, the result of this combination of Bohner’s choreography and Gelabert’s interpretation made the performance a singular and unforgettable experience. Im Goldenen Schnitt I is still being performed. Gelabert Azzopardi Companyia de Dansa has been the resident dance company of Teatre Lliure Barcelona, since 2003. Cesc Gelabert has created In a Landscape a solo for Mikhail Baryshnikov. Other comissions have been for David Hughes , Balletto di Toscana, Tanztheater Komische Oper, Ballet Gulbenkian and Larumbe Danza. He has also collaborated with stage celebrities and artists in many productions, such as Núria Espert, Jorge Laveli, Montserrat Caballé, Milva, Gerardo Vera, Pilar Miró, Lluis Pasqual, Emilio Sagi, Carles Santos, Frederic Amat , Mario Gas, and Julia Migenes Johnson among others.
LYDIA AZZOPARDI London After completing her studies at the London Contemporary Dance School, she developed her career as a dancer and performer working with various choreographers, such as Robert North, Jane Dudley, Bob Cohan , Ana Sokolow and Lindsay Kemp in Rome. Ms.Azzopardi has taught contemporary dance at Zürich Opera; Maurice Bejart’s school Mudra, Brussels as resident teacher; Institut de Teatre, Barcelona; as well as teaching courses internationally. Started working with Gelabert in 1980, performing internationally together. The company was established in 1985 in Barcelona. Ms.Azzopardi has collaborated in many of his creations as costume designer and stylist. She has designed for Komische Oper; Balletto di Toscano; Ballet Gulbenkian; and Gelabert’s solo for Mikhail Baryshnikov. Other events include theatre, film, video and opera. She also gives short lectures on designing costumes for dance. She also performs in some of the projects. Ms. Azzopardi has been awarded the City of Barcelona Award 2005 and Sebastiá Guasch 2006 Theatre Award of FAD, for costume design of Psitt!! Psitt!! / Caravan.
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