Chiara Bersani
Chiara Bersani
Michel - The Animals I am
Kampnagel, K2
June 19, 2026, 19.00 h
June 20, 2026, 19.00 h
Duration 40 minutes
German premiere
Regular 28,- to 40,- EUR
Reduced rate 16,- to 20,- EUR
Pre-sale
The piece was born as a natural evolution of a solo created and performed by Chiara Bersani in 2021, which explored and re-adapted the codes of classical ballet to a divergent body, like that of the artist, who lives with brittle bone disease. In 2022 the solo was passed on to another performer, who shares the same genetic disorder. In 2025, the project evolved further into a choral version: three performers with disabilities brought “Michel - The Animals I Am” to life, going beyond the idea of the disabled artist as an isolated ‘exception’. The artist draws inspiration from Michel Petrucciani, an early deceased jazz pianist with the same genetic condition, often celebrated as a ‘genius’. Giving space to different bodies, new expressive possibilities, and forms of representation, the piece dissolves the concept of uniqueness through a political statement that questions the paradigms of dance and performance art.
Chiara Bersani is an Italian performing artist and choreographer exploring the politics of the body and how the images we create interact with society’s narratives. Her research is based on the concept of the “Political Body” and the creation of practices aimed at training its presence and action. As an activist Chiara works on the accessibility of disabled artists in the performing arts scene. Her "manifesto" work of this research is Gentle Unicorn. In 2018 she won the Ubu Award as best performer under 35, in 2025, she won the ANTI Festival International Prize for Live Art in Kuopio, Finland. She is co-curator with Giulia Traversi of the Spazio Kor (Asti) season and Guest Curator for the 2025 edition of the Bastards international performing arts festival (Trondheim, Norway). In 2020, she was one of the co-founders of Al.Di.Qua.Artists, a trade association for artists with disabilities. For her commitment as an activist, she was nominated for the Black Carpet Awards and the Diversity Awards in 2023. She is an associate artist of Triennale Milano Teatro 2025-2027.
This guest performance is kindly supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture Ministero della Cultura, Direzione generale Spettacolo, supported by Istituto Italiano di Cultura Hamburg.
Concept, choreography: Chiara Bersani
Performers: Anna Maria Pes, Annalisa Frascari, Carolina Ellero
Lighting design and technical care: Valeria Foti
Set Design: Valeria Foti and Richard Gargiulo
Sound: Francesco Rofi Pallone
Costumes: Giulia Merlini and Ettore Lombardi
Tour technician: Eva Luna Thomann
Theoretical support: Giulia Traversi
Movement consultant: Marta Ciappina
Vocal dramaturgy: Ernani Maletta, Francesca Dalla Monica
Assistant: Simone Chiacchiararelli
Promotion, curation, booking: Giulia Traversi
Accessibility, Communication and press kit: Flavia Dalila D’Amico
Logistics, organization, production: Eleonora Cavallo
Administration: Chiara Fava
Production: Corpoceleste_C.C.00#
Co-production: Snaporazverein (Samaden, CH), Theaterfestival Boulevard (S-Hertogenbosch, NL)
With the support of: Alkantara Festival and Centro de Arte Moderna, Gulbenkian (Lisbon, PRT) Ring Project by Festival Aperto / I Teatri Reggio Emilia Foundation - Bolzano Danza / Haydn Foundation - FOG Triennale Milano Performing Arts - Torinodanza Festival / Teatro Stabile di Torino Foundation - Teatro Nazionale
Associated Partner: Lavanderia a Vapore / Piemonte dal Vivo Foundation (ITA)
Chiara Bersani is Associated Artist of Triennale Milano Teatro 2025–2027
With the contribution of: Regione Lombardia
