Interview: Giovanni Zazzera, ‘NEGARE’

Ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024, we’re chatting with a range of creatives who will be heading to the city over August to find out more about their shows. Today we’re chatting with Giovanni Zazzera about Z Art Dance Company’s production NEGARE.

Can you tell us a bit about you and your career so far?
Hi, my name is Giovanni Zazzera. I originally trained at the Luxembourg Dance Conservatory and continued my studies in Brazil; I am a dance and movement choreographer, and the Artistic Director of the Z ART Dance Company in Luxembourg. I am actively involved in the cultural field and collaborate in and with various projects. My practice thrives on sharing bodies - and the movement that emerges from them - to play with singularities, vibrations, unique languages, and emotions. I think that movement is a human necessity, and my multidisciplinary artistic approach focuses on the trust of the body and the complexities of the human state of being. My work explores identity and authenticity; the absurd, social, emotional, and temporal; materialising this in space, performance, time, and moments. In my work, I constantly seek to reinforce an identity rooted in the essence of movement, oriented towards the human and the living, nurturing a rich and complete subject matter, aiming for current and timeless questions and words.

(Background: Since 2010, I have performed regularly on the international and Luxembourg scenes. In 2013, I was awarded the Luxembourg Dance Prize and signed various creations such as SECRETS, QUAND LE SILENCE PARLE, "FLOWERS GROW EVEN IN THE SAND, and UNTIL YOU FALL, OUT OF RANGE, CHUUUT(e) & CREDERE, (DI)SPERARE, NEGARE a choreographic Tryptic that explores the states of human beliefs. I’m working on new creations such as “SOUS HYPNOSE” &“LABYRINTH”- planned for the upcoming season 2024/25.)

What is your show about?

‘NEGARE’ is a sensitive and intriguing performance piece about the journey of a character who perpetuates a need to observe himself, and to feel observed, to expose his identity wholly to the gaze of others. It plays with the idea that exposing yourself in front of an audience takes courage, or sometimes simply just creates a need to exist. 

The work explores absurdism and the surreal. In ‘NEGARE’, the body is seated on a throne surrounded by a golden carpet, quietly waiting with a bunch of carrots in hand for the arena to fill up; waiting for the moment t it can finally begin to exist and invite audience members into an intimate dialogue with itself and its search for identity. Sometimes absurd, sometimes touching, Alexandre invites us to discover him and his authenticity.

What was the inspiration for NEGARE and what’s the development process been to get to this stage?
‘NEGARE’ began with the intention of creating a project that explores the conditioning of human belief, communicated through a choreographic triptych - three performances that complement and bounce off each other. This approach gave rise to one of my latest works LE TRIPTYQUE, represented by three distinct but interlinked performance pieces in conversation with the theme of human belief. This trilogy includes the solo "NEGARE" - which we are delighted to be presenting at this year's Fringe Festival as part of the Luxembourg selection supported by KulturLX -  the duo "(di)SPERARE", and the trio "CREDERE".

What made you want to take NEGARE to the Fringe?
Through its unique format, we wish to share a performance that is accessible to a wide audience, communicated in a dialogue of the body and its non-verbal language. This reflects the key values of Z Art Dance Company itself as a whole, and how we shape our work. 

NEGARE is an intimate piece performed by a fabulous dancer named Alexandre Lipaux. For me, it uniquely opens the doors to intimacy, allowing us to observe him, watch him, and accompany him on his journey through the questioning of his identity and his beliefs. This piece offers a moment of sharing through intimacy, closeness and connection with the spectator - and the fragility that is shared with them throughout. This solo takes us on a journey through movement, theatrical expression, and illusion.

Apart from seeing NEGARE, what’s your top tip for anybody heading for Edinburgh this summer?

This will be my first time in Edinburgh and at the festival. I myself can't wait to discover this extraordinary event! In any case, I advise you to come and discover the artistic richness of the Luxembourg scene and to explore the two other projects of my Luxembourg colleagues, who represent the "Luxembourg showcase supported by Kultur LX" during the Fringe and will also be present at the festival.

Why should people book NEGARE?

If you want to laugh, feel emotions, surprise yourself, and let yourself be surprised, come see NEGARE! 

When and where can people see NEGARE? 

From 12 - 25th August (not 19th) at C Arts C Venues, CAquila, Roman Eagle Lodge, 2 Johnston Terrace, EH1 2PW, Venue 21. Time: 14:40- 30 mins. Reviewers are welcome to attend from 13th August.