Internationally renowned choreographer Luca Silvestrini won the prestigious One Dance UK’s Award for Artistic Innovation in Dance at the Awards ceremony on 10 February 2024.
With a 25-year career of artistic innovation as Artistic Director of Protein Dance, Luca Silvestrini took on the role of Artistic Director for the radical Home from Home project produced by Encore East which was co-commissioned by Norwich Theatre, Dance East and The Place in London.
Featuring 42 dancers ranging in age from 56 to over 80, working with five choreographers, original music, set and costume. The pioneering dance performance created by Luca made its world premiere at DanceEast, Ipswich, before heading to Norwich Theatre Playhouse and a sell-out performance in London.
Aiming to establish and make visible the growing community of older dancers, and to raise their aspirations, the production had to attain the highest artistic quality.
The whole cast features over 40 dancers, all over the age of 50 – Home from Home boasted one of the largest casts of older dancers to perform anywhere in England. The work began life as four works created by different choreographers from each venue. This has then been worked into one seamless, heartwarming and empowering celebration of later life.
Luca Silvestrini was the perfect choice for artistic leader for this ambitious project. With energy, generosity, care and imagination, he moves across traditional boundaries between professional and non-professional artists, settings and generations. He has influenced generations of dance, music and other artists, alongside thousands of participants, performers and audiences, changing our understanding of dance. Always striving to help dancers be the best version of themselves, he inspires and empowers them while embracing a wide variety of ways of learning, physical abilities and energy levels.
Speaking about the project, Jez Pike, Head of Creative Development at Norwich Theatre, said: “Co-commissioning Home from Home was a part of our continuing commitment to supporting the development of new dance.
“It is fantastic news that this empowering and heartwarming celebration of lived-in experience, created through an innovative collaboration between community voices and exceptional choreographers has been recognised in this way.”