AZZURRA ARDOVINI

Summer School Tutor

Azzurra Ardovini started her training in ballet and contemporary in Florence, before moving to the UK to continue her training at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS) from 2003 to 2006. From 2006-07 she was part of EDge Dance Company, and began working professionally as a freelance artist . During that time Azzurra worked with Rosemary Lee, Jonathan Lunn, Freddie Opoku-Addaie, ENO and ROH. In 2008 she joined Henri Oguike Dance Company and later in 2009 she moved to Phoenix Dance Theatre. During her time with the Leeds-based company she danced with many choreographers, including Lost Dog, Douglas Thorpe, Aletta Collins and Richard Alston. In 2012 Azzurra was released by Phoenix Dance Theatre to work with Akram Khan Company for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. Since leaving the Company in 2013 she has worked in the UK, China and Belgium with choreographers such as Kim Brandstrup, James Cousins, Jorge Crecis, Carlos Pons Guerra (De Nada Dance Theatre), Opera North, Vincent Dance Theatre and Luca Silvestrini, amongst others.

In 2012 she graduated with Distinction from the MA in Contemporary Dance course at LCDS, and was nominated for Outstanding Female Performer (Contemporary) at the 2012 Critics’ Circle Awards. In 2014 she was awarded the Leadership Mentoring Scheme from Dance UK.
Azzurra is a public speaker and teaches extensively to conservatoires, colleges, youth groups and professional companies. In 2015 Azzurra, together with her fellow colleagues Phil Sanger and Josh Wille, set up the company Sardoville. The collective’s goal is to create work and to commission choreographers, as well as facilitating the outreach of contemporary dance in the North; creating artist development opportunities to support the dance ecology of Leeds and the surrounding area.