Michel: The Animals I Am is a performance-concert born from the desire to transform a solo into a chorus, evoking the sonic geometries of John Cage and the talent of pianist Michel Petrucciani, to whom the title also pays homage. Chiara Bersani shares with the composer not only the same genetic disorder but also a professional journey that treads the line of exceptionality. In the spirit of multiplying singularities and brilliant figures, the artist conveys two legacies: on the one hand, the discipline that permeates the language of classical ballet, specifically The Dying Swan; on the other, a solo piece, L’Animale, which debuted in 2021 and now becomes a refraction and a roar for three performers with disabilities. A physical encounter between the artist’s personal archive and that of dance, refracting as it passes into other non-conforming bodies. Connecting these invisible dimensions is a question: if the classical repertoire demands to be performed by bodies conforming to a very precise model, can there be a repertoire that applies the same rigid requirement to bodies that conform to other models? The answer is an embodied, sonic environment that absorbs the concept of exception into choral voices, pointing toward an idea of a possible collectivity.
Chiara Bersani is also in the Short Theatre 2026 programme with the workshop TRASMISSIONI, a space for research and experimentation on the ways a choreographic fragment can be transmitted — across different bodies, different times, and different possibilities of movement — open to people with and without disabilities.
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. Her “manifesto” work of this research is Gentle Unicorn, a performance included in the Aerowaves circuit. In 2018 she won the Premio Ubu as best performer under 35. Her creation Sottobosco (undergrowth) explores the relationship between disabled bodies and natural landscapes. Chiara Bersani has been an artist of apap – Advancing Performing arts project – Feminist Future, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. As an activist Chiara works on the accessibility of disabled artists in the performing arts scene. In 2020, she was one of the co-founders of Al.Di.Qua.Artists, a trade association for artists with disabilities. In 2023 the Kunsthaus Baselland, hosted Deserters, Bersani’s first solo exhibition in a European institution in collaboration with Gamec in Bergamo and with the support of the 11th edition of the Italian Council, promoted by the Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity within the Italian Ministry of Culture. The same year she was nominated for the Black Carpet Awards and the Diversity Awards for her commitment as an activist. 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 2026 she was shortlisted for the prestigious Salavisa European Dance Award (SEDA). In the same year she was performer and consultant for the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, directed by Marco Boarino. She is an associate artist of Triennale Milano Teatro 2025-2027.
concept, choreography Chiara Bersani
performers Anna Maria Pes, Annalisa Frascari, Carolina Ellero
lighting design and technical care Valeria Foti
touring technician Eva Luna Thomann
set design Valeria Foti and Richard Gargiulo
sound Francesco Rofi Pallone
costumes Giulia Merlini and Ettore Lombardi
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
video Noemi Forti
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
ph. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian – Diana Tinoco