PGDip in Performance
Role and responsibilities:
Gianluca oversees the artistic and educational aspects of Watson Dance Project.
“Originally from Italy, I have lived half of my life away from my home country.
As an LGBTQIA* person coming from a working-class background and an immigrant to the U.K., I have direct experience of the path to integration; navigating a new language and cultural norms, as well as challenging prejudice when feeling oppressed. This personal journey has inspired my professional core values and all my work is underpinned by an understanding of the need for us all to feel part of the community we live and work in.
I have lived in Leeds for over 10 years now, together with my husband and our cat. I love baking, the outdoors and the seaside.”
Gianluca has performed, taught and directed dance throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and USA since 1997. He trained at the National Academy of Dance in Rome, Venice Biennale Danza, and Transitions Dance Company at Trinity Laban. Performance credits include: Henri Oguike, Cristian Duarte, Luca Silvestrini, Efrosini Protopapa’s Lapsus Corpi, himherandit productions and Iceland Dance Company.
Gianluca was Artistic Director of VERVE from 2011-2016 and Head of Professional Development at Northern School of Contemporary Dance from 2014-2016. While at NSCD, Gianluca established Connections, a scheme of professional artistic development and performance including Northern Connections, specifically designed for emerging dance artists based in the North of England.
Other achievements include a collaboration with the Henry Moore Institute and Tino Sehgal for the recreation of Kiss, a live project first staged in Nantes in 2002 which visited Leeds City Centre in 2015.
Prior to moving to Leeds, Gianluca was the Assistant Artistic Director and Rehearsal Director of Iceland Dance Company from 2006-2011 and collaborative Rehearsal Director for Carte Blanche. He also held Artistic Directorship for Spiral Dansflokkur.
Gianluca has also worked with theatre and musical productions as well as television as an assistant choreographer for the UK version of the popular TV show So You Think You Can Dance.
In 2015 Gianluca joined AGITART Companyia as Festival Co-Director – programming the International Festival of Contemporary Dance in Figueres and a season for the Teatre El Jardi.
Gianluca is currently Artistic Director & CEO of Mobius Dance (MD), an international award-winning professional contemporary dance company based in Bradford and Leeds.
MD’s creations include live shows for traditional and non-traditional spaces, dance film and photographic exhibitions. MD has toured internationally including Spain, Italy and Malaysia.
Gianluca offers freelance Artistic Direction, programming and curation across the dance industry internationally as well as coaching and support for up-and-coming dance artists including AWA / Catarina Barbosa & Baptiste Hilbert.
