In 1988 the meeting of Michele Abbondanza and Antonella Bertoni in Paris marks the beginning of an artistic collaboration that leads to the foundation of the Company Abbondanza Bertoni. Michele Abbondanza studies in New York with Carolyn Carlson and is among the promoters of one of the fundamental experiences for the Italian choreography: the foundation of the company Sosta Palmizi in 1984.
In these years, the dancer-choreographer is noted by public and critics. Furthermore, the new born Company Abbondanza Bertoni is one of the Italian companies that has been able to provide entertainment for an extremely enlarged audience.
Their first show as an artistic pair and a couple was performed in 1991: Terramara.

Francesca Pedroni describes it as: “a love story danced as a daily commitment – a feeling to be played not only in the time of secret lovers, but in the time of common labor.
Baskets full of oranges to be emptied and filled with, faggots of straw to be moved, sunlit imaginary fields to travel during the months of the harvest.
A dance of glances and contacts, where “terramara” (from the latin “terra mala”, i.e. deposits of fat and blackish land, made of the leftovers of vast prehistoric sites) creates the image of a centuries-old stratification of the creative nature (the hundreds of oranges turned upside down on the stage) from which we source and to which we shall return”.

choreography: Michele Abbondanza
with Eleonora Chiocchini and Francesco Pacelli
reconstruction by: Antonella Bertoni
music: J.S. Bach, G. Yared, S. Borè and music from popular traditions
1991 scenery: Lucio Diana
light design: Carlo Meloni
costumes: Marta Griso
technical direction: Andrea Gentili
organisation and press office: Dalia Macii and Francesca Leonelli
1991 production: Drodesera – Centro Servizi Culturali Santa Chiara
2013 production: Compagnia Abbondanza/Bertoni
Reconstruction within the project RIC.CI Reconstruction Italian Contemporary Choreography Anni ’80-’90
creation and artistic direction: Marinella Guatterini
in collaboration with: AMAT Associazione Marchigiana Attività Teatrali, ARTEVEN Circuito Teatrale Regionale Veneto, TPP Teatro Pubblico Pugliese
in co-production with: Fondazione Teatro Grande di Brescia, Fondazione Fabbrica Europa, Fondazione Milano Civica Scuola di Teatro Paolo Grassi, Fondazione Ravenna Manifestazioni, Fondazione Teatro Comunale di Ferrara “Claudio Abbado”, Torinodanza Fondazione del Teatro Stabile di Torino

CALENDAR

May 11, 2013 | Teatro Toniolo, Mestre
October 13, 2013 | Torinodanza, Torino
October 16, 2013 | Teatro Sociale, Trento
November 15, 2013 | Cantieri Teatrali Koreja, Lecce
January 25, 2014 | Teatro Comunale, Vicenza
February 28, 2014 | Teatro Camploy, Verona
May 13, 2014 | Festival Fabbrica Europa – Teatro Cantiere Florida, Firenze
May 15, 2014 | Teatro della Fortuna, Fano
June 12, 2014 | Ravenna Festival – Teatro Rasi, Ravenna
October 11, 2014 | Teatro Grande, Brescia
December 16, 2014 | Teatro Comunale, Ferrara
January 16, 2015 | Teatro Gioia, Piacenza
January 25 – 26, 2015 | PimOff, Milano
January 31, 2015 | Teatro Kismet, Bari
May 9, 2015 | Teatro Verdi, Padova
June 20, 2015 | Chiostri di Santa Caterina, Finale Ligure
September 15, 2015 | Cortile di Palazzo Platamone, Catania
December 9 – 10, 2015 | Teatro India, Rome
 

[photo: Stefano Manica]