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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 and in 2003 became 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; enabling the company to realize many projects, and introduce the works of Gelabert in Berlin. Gelabert Azzopardi functions 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.
Vision and Aim Choreographer and solo performer Gelabert sets the style by his personal vision of movement. His concepts are worked and adapted on the dancer, without losing the personal identity of the performer. In selecting the dancers, the individuals are recruited from different backgrounds, with 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. 2008 Barcelona
CESC GELABERT Barcelona 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 studies in Architecture at University, which he almost completed, but decided to study dance 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, ballet and other courses, while starting to experiment with his choreography. His dedication to football continued, and every weekend he would play as captain of his team. Gelabert created his first choreography in 1972, while performing some evenings in cabaret, and continued taking jazz classes with visiting teachers. His favorite teacher being Matt Mattox, with whom he took classes in London. 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 flat sitting and working in the evenings, he started creating group works with postmodern dancers, and new solos for himself. “My old corduroy suit” was presented at the Kitchen theatre, to good reception, enabling him to be an active member of the New York dance community. In 1980 he began to collaborate with dancer Lydia Azzopardi, performing throughout Spain and festivals in France and Italy. 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. 1987 and 1988 two works were created; Requiem (Verdi) and Belmonte, the music was an original score composed by Carlos Santos, whom he had collaborated with in New York,. Sets and costumes were designed by the artist Frederic Amat. Both 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, in collaboration 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 Santorio’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. As a guest choreographer for Balletto di Toscana (1995) he made Hortensia ; followed by Lucrecia Stop (1996) for Tanzheater Komischer Oper, Berlin. In 1999 he created his second piece Fountain of Love, for Balletto di Toscana. In 2002 Charmes for Ballet Gulbenkian, Lisbon. In 2003,a highlight experience as a choreographer was the making of the solo “In a Landscape” for Mikhail Baryshnikov. Edinburgh Festival 2004, the Company received The Herald, Critic’s Award after their participation in the Festival. During this short residence, Gelabert made a short piece Arthur’s Feet, working with performers with learning disabilities. This was a new and inspiring experience for the company. Gelabert has choreographed for cabaret; and with Azzopardi both have created for opera, video, theatre and film. In recognition of Gelabert’s work as an artist, he has received numerous awards (to be clicked link) throughout his career as choreographer and dancer. Current company production Orion, for eight/ten performers, including himself. Francisco López and Borja Ramos have composed the music in conjunction with the choreography. 2008 Barcelona
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. 2008 Barcelona
AWARDS 1987 City of Barcelona Award. GELABERT-AZZOPARDI PRODUCTIONS 1986 Desfigurat CESC GELABERT SOLOS. 1982-2004 Bujaraloz CHOREOGRAPHIES FOR OPERAS 1985-2008 La vera storia. Luciano
Berio (París Opera/Teatro Communale, Florence) Director:
Luis Pasqual CHOREOGRAPHIES FOR THEATRE Salomé. Oscar
Wilde. (Teatro de Merida) Director: Mario Gas (1985) CHOREOGRAPHIES FOR OTHER DANCE COMPANIES Hortensia. Balletto
di Toscana 1995
WHAT IS GELAZZO - CESC GELABERT - PRELUDIS - GLIMPSE
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