Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Pizzi.
Hi Sara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m an Italian contemporary-conceptual artist, dancer, choreographer, director, now based in New York.
I’m an art lover, passionate worker, determined creator, and observer that constantly is looking for the hidden dance of this world. I’m not a person who gives up, I’m not an individual that sits waiting for an opportunity to come itself, I’m not a human being that lives for himself and personal satisfaction. I’m an artist who uses art as a non-activist documentary of this world to explain what it should be changed, to give some possibilities of change and create a space of reflection. My presence must be useful in this society, this world needs a break and I’m ready to be part of the heart-quake. My art is thoughtful, my thoughts are layered, my layers are full of creativity and passion. I’m what I create. What I create is what I see. I’m art.
My passion for dance was born on the first day of elementary school, when a classmate of mine told me in the building next door, they offered training dance courses. After class, I ran to my mom, telling her I wanted to start training dance. The next day this great love story broke out, which continues to this day. I’ve never started dance thinking it would be my career, and now it is my life, my personal goal, my daily commitment and work.
I want to clarify that my family does not have an artistic background and would never have imagined that I could approach this type of path and career. In the end, seeing me so happy and passionate led my parents to support me in my choices and for this, I will always be grateful to them.
I started my dance training with ballet technique and modern dance technique, introducing the study of hip hop/commercial dance in my teen years. Quickly I become a dance educator and at 14 years old I joined the dance company “Spotlight Work Team” in Padua directed by Riccardo Benetazzo and Michael Fields. In those years developed my artistry and my versatility becoming a professional dancer, having the opportunity to perform on important National Competition, Italian Stages and Tv shows, collaborating with international artists in music videos, advertisements and projects.
It was February 2017 of my last year of high school, when my life changed.
Events and people around me were pushing me to choose a university that would fit me in a safe working position. Precisely in that period of transition, I accidentally read about an open lesson, which was to be held in Florence, by an American choreographer. I took advantage of the opportunity to enroll, in the excuse was to visit the city, but inside me, I was aware that perhaps it would be one of my last dance lessons. The masterclass was based on the classic and the modern styles, not in line with my artistic preparation and even though I was ready for the challenge, I didn’t have high expectations about it.
At the end of the training hour, the teacher required ten minutes of improvisation. It was at that moment that I felt a strange sensation. At the end of the event, in fact, to my great surprise, the teacher called me to ask me questions about my educational background, congratulating me on the versatility and asking me to leave him my email contact. Ten days later, when the memory of the Florentine experience had faded, I was called by the director of the “Steps on Broadway” Academy of Dance in person, who told me that she had been admitted to the professional course year in New York. At that moment, I realized that the choreographer was a talent scout, sent to award scholarships. This is how my foreign adventure began”.
This lead to attend one year of an open international program at “Steps On Broadway”, a year where I developed my personality, my creativity, clarifying my goals and purposes as artists, and that connected me with some of the closest people that now I live with. It is because of them that I attended the Professional Dance Certificate Program held by the dance academy “Peridance Center”, from which I graduated in 2020. In those two years of program, I improve my techniques in ballet, modern, commercial style, falling in love with contemporary art. My soul, artistic vision, my dedication, fell in love with the complexity of contemporary art and dance, evolving my artistry and individuality into a contemporary dancer. From that, I increase my studies in dance history, dance criticism, dance anatomy, improvisation dance, floor work, partnering, and any style of contemporary dance. Studies that never stopped even during the lockdown caused by the covid-19 pandemic.
In 2020, I founded my creative space S|R|P|Z, collaborating with international and national artists such, dancers, singers, visual artists, painters, videographers, writers, photographers, making dance videos, and full length live performances, performed in some New York City tethers.
In the meantime, I’m a performer of 4 dance companies: “The Next Stage Project” directed by Marijke Eliasberg and Jana Hicks, “Valerie Green/ Dance Entropy” directed by Valerie Green, “Valleto” directed by Valeria Gonzales and “Open Dance Ensemble” directed by Philip Foster.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The right path is not the easiest. First of all, I want to share that in this world there are so many more people that struggle everyday more than me. From my side, my parents always supported me. I always had to work hard for everything I achieved, but I felt often supported by a lot of people around me, most of all when I moved in NYC. All the difficulties I crossed in my way were: dealing with responsibilities, dealing with people who never take seriously your vision and career, dealing with daily struggles, personal affirmation, independence, growing up. But the biggest challenge was the understanding that I have to be my own inspiration, strength and light, working hard and everyday for your ideals. The biggest obstacle was and is to demonstrate to this society that art is worthy, artist are essential workers and every else work position, that art is not only creation but also self production-promotion and creation of career, business and stability.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I believe as each individual in this world that has been chosen as a career, I choose to express my opinion through art, and I’ll use it to contribute to this world to make a better place for everyone.
This is why my mission is “to normalize art and to empower minorities”.
“To normalize art” because I feel that between the “ordinary people” and artists there is a wall. Artists are no- necessary not well-paid workers and every time I share, I’m an artist people ask me the typical job “what is your real job?” and unfortunately it is true that being an artist most of the time does not pay your rent.
But the thing that bothers me the most is that people think I’m not doing anything everyday living in my own clouds.
Also, on the other hand, artists create this wall: thinking about ballerinas creates this iconic ideal of perfection that most of the time scare people letting them feel inferior, or contemporary pieces that are way too abstract without description without helping the audience to understand the message behind.
I want to make art for people, I want to be a bridge to welcome people to the art world without feeling judged or overwhelmed.
I want to make art that speaks about people, giving my point of view to understand the world and to let people think about it. I create art for people.
This is the reason behind my goal to introduce art into “non-artistic” environments, to let art be our daily routine letting it be understandable and normalized.
Another reason why I create S|R|P|Z to collaborate with artists whose mission is the same in the hope to build a solid place to welcome a community of artists in need to explore and share their voices – something that I miss out on in my education and I feel that it is missing right now in this world.
This is why, also, my priority is to help the category of minorities. As a spokeswoman of minorities (immigrant, lgbtqa+, dancer) I want to give voice to social issues that people tend to forget.
Part of my passion for this is because before moving to NYC I worked in a mental health care center and it was heartbreaking to see how people were judged or forgotten from society, and they are just people with dreams and passion.
I want to use art as a non-activist documentary of this world to explain what it should be changed, to give some possibilities of change and create space of reflection.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
The best side of NYC is the huge and impressive inclusivity and openness to diversity. NYC is looking for diversity, more unique you can be, more accepted you are going to feel. Extravaganza is the best description of this city. Speaking from my personal experience and from other people close to me: NYC allows to everyone to become who they are, unapologetically. The greatest satisfaction, however, is when I receive appreciation for my work, when I expose my ideas to other artists for a possible collaboration, when I propose my work to organizations or festivals and I receive a feedback for which, my vision, it’s valid. These are the moments that fill my heart and make me understand that I must continue to create art. The least thing I like about NYC is being able to handle the dynamic routine that this city imposes. Be one hundred percent productive every day, being always present and at your full potential. NYC is always going to give you opportunities, but it is too easy to get overwhelmed losing your main goal.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://sarapizzi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sarapizzi_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sara.pizzi.7
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaraPizzi3
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrojXl1b6CortTwOIyKIvCA
Image Credits
Rebecca Marcela (Oviatt Becca Vision)
