Erica Bravini is a dancer and performer from Rome. She initially trained in the classical ballet tradition before exploring contemporary forms of dance and theatre. She graduated from the National Academy of Dance in Rome, specialising in Contemporary Dance, and in 2022 she completed the MAPPA Master’s in Performing Arts, organised by Palaexpo and the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. Since 2017, she has worked as a dancer and performer with various international companies and in artist-led projects, including Alias (Geneva, Switzerland), Aldes/Roberto Castello, Adriana Borriello Dance Research, and Hiya Compagnie/Dalila Belaza (France). She collaborates with Michael Incarbone on the creation of performances and shows, such as the recent “FALLEN ANGELS”.

Ilenia Romano graduated from the National Academy of Dance in Rome and went on to continue her studies at Modem CZD. Her training ranges from classical technique to contemporary dance styles and martial arts. During her time with the National Academy of Dance Company, she had the opportunity to work directly with artists on the international scene such as Pina Bausch, Cristiana Morganti, Jacopo Godani, Wayne McGregor, Ismael Ivo and Robyn Orlin. She then danced for the French company Les gens d’Uterpan (Annie Vieger & Frank Upertet) and the Belgian choreographer Micha Van Hoecke. For several years now, she has been collaborating as a performer with leading Italian companies such as: Compagnia Adriana Borriello, ALDES Roberto Castello, Compagnia Zappalà Danza (as a dancer and assistant), and DEOS (Giovanni Di Cicco). In 2015, she officially embarked on her career as a choreographer and became an associate artist with Scenario Pubblico/CZD National Centre for Dance Production. She is also dedicated to teaching movement techniques to professional dancers, actors, amateurs and children.

Roberto Castello is a dancer, choreographer and teacher, and one of the pioneers of contemporary dance in Italy. In the early 1980s, he danced in Venice at Carolyn Carlson’s Teatro e danza La Fenice, where he created his first choreographies.  In 1984, he was one of the founders of Sosta Palmizi.  In 1993, he founded ALDES, through which he has explored the intersection of dance, visual arts and new technologies, and has created numerous theatrical and non-theatrical productions.  Since 1996, he has curated various events and festivals, and from 2005 to 2015, he taught digital choreography at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan. Since 2008, with ALDES, he has curated the project “SPAM! network for contemporary arts” in the province of Lucca, hosting residencies, a multidisciplinary programme of performances, workshops, educational activities and meetings. In 2017, he created and curated the blog “93% – materials for a non-verbal politics”, a platform for reflection, discussion and the exchange of materials on non-verbal language. In 2021, Altreconomia published “Treatise on Economics – Semi-serious reflections on the economic dimension of existence”, written with Andrea Cosentino, and he contributed to the publication of the volume “In the Best of All Possible Worlds. On the work of Roberto Castello”, edited by Valentina Valentini together with Chiara Pirri and Valeria Vannucci, published by Ephemeria.  Throughout his career, he has collaborated with, amongst others, Peter Greenaway, Eugène Durif, Rai3 / Fabio Fazio and Roberto Saviano, and Studio Azzurro. He has always championed the recognition of contemporary dance and advocated for a fair, efficient and sustainable performing arts system.  He received the UBU Prize in 1985, 2003, 2018 and 2022.

ALDES is an association of artists and cultural practitioners which, since 1993, under the direction of  Roberto Castello, has been producing and promoting experimental choreographic works, with a particular focus on the boundaries between dance and the visual arts, dance and new technologies, and dance and theatre, creating shows, videos, installations, performances and events centred on the body, movement and their representation. ALDES is an experiment in the responsible management of culture, artistic practice and the relationship with the local area, exploring organisational models designed to relieve artists of all bureaucratic burdens. Since 2008, in the province of Lucca, ALDES has been running ‘SPAM! network for contemporary arts’, hosting residencies and a multidisciplinary programme of performances, workshops, educational activities and meetings.
In 2017, she created and edited the blog “93% – materials for non-verbal politics”, a platform for reflection, discussion and the exchange of materials on non-verbal language. In 2018, ALDES received the Special Ubu Prize for the ‘ALDES project’. ALDES is supported by the MIC – Ministry of Culture, the Region of Tuscany / Regional Performing Arts System, and since 2013 has been an Artist-in-Residence under the Tuscan law on culture. It is also supported by the Municipality of Capannori and the Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca Foundation.