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Luca Masala Director of the Académie de Danse Princesse Grace of Monte Carlo
Published April 2010 In September 2009, Luca Masala was appointed director of the Académie de Danse Princesse Grace of Monte Carlo. I met Luca Masala for the first time in 1982, when he joined the school of La Scala in Milan. He had a bright career as a dancer, first in Wiesbaden then in Munich, at the great and renowned Bavarian State Ballet, at that time directed by Konstanze Vernon, where his interpretations of "Black Cake" of Hans Van Manen and Armand in the "Lady of the Camellias" of Neumeier were remarkable.Before his appointment in Monaco, he danced, choreographed and taught at the Ballet du Capitole in Toulouse. Saul Marziali: How did you come to know about your appointment as director of the Academy? Luca Masala: • It was in the middle of summer and I was at the beach having a swim, when suddenly I got a call, telling me the news. I didn't expect it at all, but it was a very nice surprise! S.M.: • How did you find the Academy? Were there things that needed to be changed or added? L.M.: • During my first months, I was very occupied with administrative problems! I had practically no time to give lessons and to be in the ballet studios. By the way, all the studios need to be renovated. S. M.: • How many studios do you have today, and what are your plans? L. M.: • Today, the Academy has three studios, a big one on the top floor and two small studios. We would need a second big studio at least. There is a terrace in the courtyard of the Villa with impressive view of the harbour and of the Prince’s Palace. This terrace would be easily adaptable to this function. The work should begin in summer, in order to deliver us the new jewel in September 2010. S. M.: • During our visit, I did not see pianos in the studios... L. M.: • Yes, you are right, teachers here used to give classes with recorded music. Therefore, the Academy still does not have a pianist, because this position was not considered necessary! On the contrary, I believe in the pedagogic importance to learning dance through the music played by a live pianist and I am looking to hire one, after creaing a contract for this position. S.M.: • Very good initiative! What are your objectives for the near future and how can you attain them? L.M.: • I have two main objectives right now: the first one is definitely to administrate the Academy as successfully as possible and the second one is to make the education program more complete.
L.M.: • I simply want to add supplementary disciplines to classical ballet such as contemporary dance, improvisation and acting. On top of that, I offer to my students some workshops dedicated to the work of this or that choreographer, in order to form and give them a concrete idea of what the working process and contact with a choreographer will look like. Here they will have to be able to let themselves go to the artistic wishes and signature of the guest choreographer. S. M.:• Excellent, this is very promising! L. M.:• Yes, you know it perhaps better then me, with the long experience you had with Uwe Scholz. It would be interesting to dedicate to him a workshop, we will see...regarding Germany, I can give you some news: next year we will introduce "Max und Moritz", a ballet which will show all the students on stage from 10 to 18 years. S.M.: • Yes, I know the work of Wilhelm Busch very well, who created in 1865 a story for children very popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. L. M.:• I believe this will be a nice experience for everybody, especially for the students. They will be confronted with the stage and public, some of them for the first time! These are roughly my plans for the near future. In another way, you know, my life absolutely changed since I came here. I have a lot of responsibilities and duties to be fulfilled now. This seems to me more important and a priority for a director, rather than makeing others notice all the time that I am very powerful. S. M.:• What a pleasure finding you surrounded by such a fascinating frame, the Villa Casa Mia! I wish you good progress and, thanks to your artistic, pedagogic and administrative competence acquired during your international career, I believe that success will show up very soon, especially for the students!
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by Saul Marziali
S.M.: • How do you want to achieve that?