conversations in ten questions 80: Sofia Nappi

©Jeanette Bak

Born in Florence, Sofia Nappi completed her education at Alvin Ailey's school. She started receiving awards for her choreographies when she was only 17 years old, and she most recently won the Introdance Award at the Rotterdam International Duet Choreography Competition in 2021 and first prize, critics' and production awards at the 35th Hannover International Choreography Competition with her pieces for the company Komoco, which she founded with her violinist and composer sister Alice Nappi. In the 2024 season she was invited to create a new work for the world-famous Nederlands Dans Theater NDT.

PUPO, which will be staged at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall on 29-30 April 2024, is a work inspired by Carlo Collodi's famous work Pinocchio. We asked Sofia Nappi what she wondered about art, life and PUPO.

What is the essence of performance in your opinion?

It's a personal experience conveyed through the expression of the body in a physical and sensorial way. It's a journey, it's alive and therefore every time different.

Do you believe in the transformative power of art? How? 

I do believed it. Could be therapeutic, entertaining, moving, etc, whether you contemplate it or if you are actively part of the art form. The answer lies in the fact that we mirrors ourselves in it.

When you are working on a piece, what sources inspire you? Do dreams play a role in your pieces?

Everytime is different, but recurrent ones is being in nature, listening to music (any kind), visual art exhibitions, reading books and yes, it happened that I dream about it. 

When do you decide to give a title to a piece you are working on if it already does not have one? 

Usually the title arrives first, before anything. I word, a concept, an idea. It doesn't come after for me. I trust it and usually I never changed it. 

Are there any artist or person whom you think influenced your art most? And if there is such an artist or person, who?

There are few that inspired me a lot and I have high esteem of: some are Pina Bausch, Ohad Naharin, Hofesh Shechter and Charlie Chaplin. 

When you consider the current state of the world in every sense, what is the most important and urgent issue for you as an artist?

To keep the art free and for its own purpose. That is I believe the most important aspect of art and now a days it' s often lost. 

You work as a freelance choreographer for international ballet and dance companies, in addition to having your own dance company. What are the differences between creating piece with your own company and a foreign company?

It's a whole different journey. With Komoco is like coming back home and feeling the complete freedom to arrange and play with the dancers in the most insane way. With a different dance institution, I arrive open to know different people and artists and let myself be inspired with who is in the space. I will be still feeling free, but takes slightly more time to establish the conversation of course.

PUPO, your latest production to be staged in Istanbul, is inspired by the famous puppet character Pinocchio. How did you approach this figure that has been interpreted countless times? 

I approached Pinocchio as a young person and his journey throughout life. Through greed, lust, subconscious, playfulness, connection and realization. It's a non- narrative approach that roots itself in our inner child and pleasure to move. 

With Edoardo Marabini you also designed the sound for your last piece, PUPO. Choreographers rarely get involved in sound design. What sparked your interest in sound? 

I usually mix and create my own music. I played the classic piano for 11 years, music has been part of my own essence since way before approaching dance. 

Istanbul audience will encounter a piece of yours for the first time. Is there anything particular you would like to tell the Istanbul audience before they experience PUPO? 

To just don't expect we tell one story, but many human stories of each of the humans who are onstage. get ready, it's a lot of vital energy!! We can't wait!

[The version in Turkish was published in unlimited.]