Music for Dance Interview: Mara Galeazzi
Biography:
Italian dancer Mara Galeazzi, a former Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet, returned to the Company as a Guest Principal in 2014/15. She joined The Royal Ballet in 1992 aged 18, was promoted to Principal in 2003, retiring at the end of 2012/13 season with Mary Vetsera in “Mayerling’ , one of her first principal role at age 19.
Born in Chiari ( Brescia , Italy) trained from age 10 at La Scala Milan school and graduated with one of the higher score in History. She was awarded a Cavaliere del Merito ( knighted ) by the president of Italy in 2009, Positano Prize in 2008, Danza e danza prize in 2006, “She made a difference” Women of the year in 2018 and in 2018 also received “Merenzino d’oro” from Italy. Her repertoire includes: Juliet ( Romeo&Juliet), Manon , Tatania ( Onegin), Giselle, The Firebird , Mary Vetsera ( Mayerling), Fille Mal Gardee, The Rite of spring, Gamzatti ( La Bayedere), Anastasia, Paquita, Les Corsaire , The Sugar Plum fairy ( Nutcracker) and many more. Since retiring she has returned to The Royal Ballet to create the role of the Mother ( Ludovic Ondiviela’s Cassandra) and “ Woolf Works by Wayne McGregor.
She is also known for her performances of more contemporary pieces , especially the work of Sir Frederick Ashton , Sir Kenneth Macmillan, Twyla Tharp , Glen Tetley , Balanchine, Wayne McGregor, Christopher Wheeldon, Mats Ek, Jiri Kilian , Alastair Marriott, Ashley Page and Alex Ratmansky . Mara debut the lead role of Virginia Woolf at the Royal Opera House and toured with the company in Brisbane, Australia 2017. This Production and Mara’s performance have received rave reviews.
Mara has also choreographed her own work, most recently “ Interrupted Cadence “ created for the Carta Blanca Dance Company, which premiered at the Teatro Principal in Zaragoza in 2017.
What does music mean to you?
Music is everything for me! Memories, emotions, dance, and love. Without music I can’t live!
What is your favourite score or piece of music that you have danced to and why?
I love Listz. It was a mixture of his music in the ballet ‘Mayerling’ by Sir Kenneth MacMillan. It’s dramatic and complex!
If you could commission a composer to write a piece of music specifically for you to dance to, what would you look for?
I don’t have a preference as long as the music touches me!
What is the relationship between music and dance to you?
Music helps me to follow my dancing instincts . There is not a specific answer to that but it just does it and it is art with art married together.
As a dancer do you have any musical inspirations?
Mozart , Prokofiev, Piano Concerto N. 21 by Mozart, Shostakovich…
And the list goes on…
Where to find Mara Galeazzi?
Instagram: @Maragaleazzi73
