Luciano and Matteo Ghidoli are dancers of the Finnish National Ballet and friends of La Notte Magazine. Our conversation with these talented guys, who tell us about their unusual path in ballet and their passion for dance, is the beginning of our Meet the Talent project, where we will communicate with interesting people involved in different types of art.
Hi guys! How are you? How do you feel in the end of the season?
Luciano: Hello! I’m very well thank you, let’s just say my body is ready for a little break however I feel fulfilled with the opportunities I had this season.
Matteo: All is good. I am excited for change. The end of season always gives a feeling of accomplishment, it’s like finishing a chapter in a good book.
Tell us a little about your journey, how did you start dancing?
Luciano: To make it short, ballet was never an option in my mind. As a young boy I was both very athletic and academic, ultimately aiming to becoming a commercial airline pilot. It wasn’t until 16 that my parents encouraged my brother and I to join our younger sister at her high performance ballet school. I thought it was an absolute joke and a ridiculous thing to suggest to a 16 year old boy who’s never danced before let alone ballet! With that said I fell in love and it earned my respect after one day.
Matteo: Ballet was always shown to us by our mother and I always loved watching it. At 17 and 15 years old my brother and I were offered a scholarship to start ballet just based off our height and genetics. We gave it 3 months and then fell in love. We never looked back after that.
How can you characterize your way in the Finnish National Ballet?
Luciano: When I first arrived here I was young (20) and quite nervous and intimidated because although I knew I had “made” it, now I had to keep improving by my own work and not with someone constantly asking me. But I did exactly that, everyday no matter how I felt I was in the studio working on myself and learning from the dancers around me, I learn a lot from just watching.
Matteo: Work hard in the silence.
Which performances have been the most memorable for you?
Luciano: I have four very memorable performances for different reasons. Firstly, the role of Crixus in Spartacus by Lucas Jervies. It was in my second month after joining the company that I was chosen to do this soloist role. I could not believe what I was reading, I immediately worried about what the other guys would think and how they would treat me because it happened so fast. In the end it was an amazing process and it was the kickstart I needed to start dancing bigger roles.
The second is Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet by John Cranko. This almost speaks for itself. I was actually never supposed to do it I was only a cover, I was infact cast for Benvolio however there was one rehearsal where I was alone with the guest repetiteur and I got to do the variation for her and it changed it all for me. Once again I was surprised. It was a very special role for me.
The third: Abdur Rahman in Raymonda by Tamara Rojo. For the audition of this role, it was the first time I felt I could dominate. The character is very strong and full of that powerful presence of an Ottoman Prince, a look and type that would come more natural to me. When I got the role it was like a dream come true not only because of it’s beauty and significance in the ballet but because it was my first Lead Principal role where I could take centre stage, partner and play a big part in the plot of a ballet. It was surreal.
Luciano Ghidoli
The next is Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Jorma Elo.
This is a special one. Puck was a character that always fascinated me, everyone loves puck! When I learnt that we would be doing Midsummer I was immediately drawn to that role. Who couldn’t be? He has the best dancing and you have to be able to tell the story from beginning to end with your acting skills, you are the narrator of the whole ballet. It’s a huge responsibility. At first I wasn’t cast, I was cover and I made peace with it because the guys I was amongst are top tier dancers but of course I was sad. Two weeks into rehearsals I got called to the directors office and I was told that I needed to jump in and take place of one of the principals. What a moment that was. My heart exploded, I knew immediately it was a gift from God. The rest was history.
Matteo: Definitely the role of Catalabutte in Sleeping beauty. It was so far from what I’m used to doing and definitely demanded some growth in my artistic range.
Do you have any funny stories in your career?
Luciano: Apart from some silly moments when you fall or forget steps on stage, one of my favourite things about performing is the behind the scenes stuff. Everything that goes on behind the wings and even the conversations and jokes with your friends onstage (laughs).
Matteo: Sadly I can’t think of any yet but hope there are some coming!
Matteo Ghidoli
This season the company premiered John Neumeier’s Death in Venice and Reija Wäre’s Édith Piaf – La vie en rose, two very bright and stylish ballets. What are your impressions and which features are the most interesting in these works?
Luciano: Death in Venice for me was quite hard to understand and enjoy at first, it felt very dry in a German way but without realising it subtly grew on me every performance. The music played a big part of that, Wagner’s music was just incredible to experience it live right next to us on stage was a real gift. Apart from my personal thoughts it was a huge success for the Finnish audience.
And speaking of that so was La Vie En Rose!
I think when someone takes a name like La Vie and say they’re going to create a ballet about it, that’s a lot of pressure! A story so iconic turned into a ballet for the first time ever!? Well although there might not be extravagant dancing showing off the physical prowess of the dancers for this ballet it was not needed, Reija effectively used subtle gestures and movements to tell the story in so much detail, paired with the musical score and set design, you feel as though you’re in Paris yourself, holding hands with Edith and listening to her story first hand. It was beautifully done and it’s something very different to what audiences could be used to, I think it might grow in popularity.
What other ballets can you advise the audience to watch in Helsinki?
Luciano: I would love to say more classical and neo classical works. The famous stuff. Manon, Don Quixote, Theme and Variations, Blake works, Anna Karenina, Carmen. There are so many beautiful ballets but I feel as though the audience doesn’t know of them.
Matteo: 100% Playlist. Experiencing William Forsythe’s style for the first time is honestly life changing. His work always leaves you with a good vibe on your way home.
Who are your ballet inspirations from the past and present?
Luciano: Well when I started dancing my mom had tapes of Baryshnikov and Cynthia Harvey. I would watch them until I couldn’t anymore. He was definitely my first inspiration. My mind grew and changed the way it thinks so more and more dancers inspired me. Seymon Chudin, Leonid Sarafanov, Hugo Marchand, Roberto Bolle, Vladimir Sklyarov, Carlos Acosta, Fernando Bujones there are many. Present I’d say Hugo Marchand, Paul Marque, Cesar Corrales, William Bracewell, Jeffrey Cirio that’s all I can think of for now, they’re all so different but there’s something beautiful in every dancer worth falling in love with.
Matteo: Matthias Heymann and Kimin Kim are my two very different but
equally amazing favourites.
Do you have any dream roles?
Luciano: Of course! Many (laughs). Romeo, Des Grieux, Basilio, Albrecht, The main couple in Theme and Variations, Solor etc.
Matteo: I would like to have the chance to dance the full ballet of La Bayadere as Solor.
If not ballet, what other path would you choose in your life?
Luciano: I always wanted to be a pilot so I think that would be probable. Other than that I think I might go into choreography eventually.
Matteo: I’ve gotten quite interested in content creation and have been streaming and doing YouTube in my free time in hopes that it takes of in a few years.
About the “out stage” life. What do you like to do when you have free time?
Luciano: In my free time, I love to be with Nature. I grew up in South Africa so to be outside and enjoy the nature is a big part of who I am. I also love gaming and spending time with my brother and friends. Other than that I mostly recover at home or spend time watching a series or movie with my girlfriend, I’m not a big party animal so I don’t go out much.
Matteo: Mostly quality with my family, girlfriend and friends… and of course the occasional clubbing (smiles).
Interview: Julia Sumzina
Photos and videos: Roosa Oksaharju, Finnish National Ballet, the personal archive of dancers
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