Valeria Magli: Pioneer of Italian Performance Art
In a recent podcast, Valeria Magli, born in Bologna in 1952, reminisced about her creative experiences from the 1980s and 1990s, describing that time as a lively hub of artistic exchange. She collaborated with well-known artists like Valerio Adami, Gianfranco Baruchello, and Nanni Balestrini, among others. Her artistic style was enriched through partnerships with figures such as French mime Étienne Decroux and musician John Cage. With a background in gymnastics, her work blends dance, poetry, and sculpture. After receiving a birthday poem from Balestrini, she developed the concept of 'dancing poetry.' Her performances have been featured at major venues, including the Centre Pompidou and the Venice Biennale. Following a cerebral hemorrhage in 2013, she shifted focus to reworking her past pieces. In 2014, she restaged her 1983 work 'Pupilla' with younger artists. Magli's forthcoming essay, 'Danza, Ballo, Performance' (Mimesis), is set to help younger audiences understand the differences between modern dance, performance, and ballo.
Key facts
- Valeria Magli was born in Bologna in 1952.
- She collaborated with Valerio Adami, Gianfranco Baruchello, Nanni Balestrini, Piero Fogliati, Carla Cerati, and Cinzia Ruggeri.
- She worked with Étienne Decroux, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, and Pierre Klossowski.
- Her practice combines dance, poetry, sculpture, and language.
- She studied under Luciano Anceschi.
- Nanni Balestrini gave her the poem 'La signorina Richmond' for her birthday.
- She coined 'dancing poetry' (poesia ballerina).
- Her performances have been at Centre Pompidou, Musée Matisse, Piccolo Teatro di Milano, Venice Biennale, and Hunter College Theater.
- A cerebral hemorrhage in 2013 ended her live performances.
- She re-edited her historical performances with a team.
- Her 1983 piece 'Pupilla' was restaged in 2014.
- Her Super 8 videos are lost.
- Her essay 'Danza, Ballo, Performance' is forthcoming from Mimesis.
- The essay aims to differentiate modern dance, performance, and ballo.
Entities
Artists
- Valeria Magli
- Valerio Adami
- Gianfranco Baruchello
- Nanni Balestrini
- Piero Fogliati
- Carla Cerati
- Cinzia Ruggeri
- Étienne Decroux
- John Cage
- Merce Cunningham
- Pierre Klossowski
- Luciano Anceschi
- Donatella Giordano
Institutions
- Centre Pompidou
- Musée Matisse
- Piccolo Teatro di Milano
- Biennale di Venezia
- Hunter College Theater
- Rai
- Mimesis
- Artribune
Locations
- Bologna
- Italy
- Paris
- France
- Milan
- Venice
- New York
- United States
- Rome
- Sicily