BIO
Born in Trentino, Riccardo trained in 2001 at the Accademia Isola Danza of the Venice Biennale, directed by Carolyn Carlson, and continued his studies at the Laban Centre in London (Transitions), where he earned a diploma in Performance with distinction.
During his career, he has worked with choreographers such as Russell Maliphant, Carolyn Carlson, Janet Smith, Malou Airaudo, Rui Horta, Didi Veldman, Kim Brandstrup, and Arthur Rosenfeld, collaborating with prestigious companies including Scottish Dance Theatre, DV8 Physical Theatre (research project), Company Chameleon, CCN Roubaix, Balletto Teatro Torino, and Arearea. He has performed on international stages such as the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Sadler’s Wells in London, the Théâtre National de Chaillot, and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Alongside his career as a performer, Riccardo has developed a personal choreographic vision supported by Arts Council England and the Autonomous Province of Trento, creating works such as Carry on Tripping, Spun, LaVisione, Il Trittico, HERO, I_ENTITY, Bloom, Anima Animus, Make a Wish, 4X, and The Seventh Man: the essence of the present.
For over 23 years, he has also been an international teacher, leading classes in technique, improvisation, and composition at institutions such as Northern School of Contemporary Dance (Leeds), Codarts Rotterdam, The Place (London), Daf Dance Arts Faculty (Rome), and the Accademia Nazionale di Danza (Rome). He has also taught at the Venice Biennale Danza – College Danza, directed by Wayne McGregor. In addition, he has participated in festivals such as Freiburg Contact Festival, Trentino Danza Estate, Contact Festival Dartington (UK), and Thailand Contact Festival, and has collaborated with professional companies including Skånes Dansteater (Sweden), Balbir Singh Dance Company (UK), Carte Blanche Norway, and Phoenix Dance Theatre (UK).
Since 2009, his career has been deeply connected to the Carolyn Carlson Company, with which he has performed in creations such as Eau (2009), Now (2014), Present Memory (2010), We Were Horses (2011), Crossroads to Synchronicity(2017), The Tree (2021), and the solo The Seventh Man (2019), conceived by Carolyn specifically for him.
projects
From 2009 to today:
Dancer and collaborator with the Carolyn Carlson Company (France), involved in projects such as Crossroads to Synchronicity, The Tree, and The Seventh Man (a solo created for me in 2019).
Recent productions:
2025: EarthSong in collaboration with Anastasia Kostner, with live jazz music
House of Glass (solo)
Danz Concert, opening of the Alps Move Festival, as project coordinator2024: 4X (quartet)
2023: Fremde Freunde (duo, co-choreographed with Anastasia Kostner)
2022: Radix for Alps Move Festival; Make a Wish (solo – Becoming Festival, Trento)
2021: Whanwizzi (OFFTANZ Tirol, Paolo Baccarani)
2020: Eden by Carolyn Carlson (Bolzano Danza); CORTI, a video project conceived by Martina Marini
2018: Movement direction for the opera Salome (Fondazione Arena di Verona, directed by Marina Bianchi)
Other notable choreographic works:
Anima Animus, Bloom, Haiku, Carry on Tripping, Spun, La Visione, Il Trittico, HERO, I_ENTITY, JE ME SOUVIENS.
Collaborations with international choreographers:
Russell Maliphant, Rui Horta, Kim Brandstrup, Malou Airaudo, Simon Birch, Gabriella Maiorino, Douglas Thorpe, Arthur Rosenfeld (Pina Bausch), Company Chameleon, DV8 Physical Theatre.
Performances at international venues and festivals, including the Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow), Sadler’s Wells (London), Théâtre National de Chaillot and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées (Paris), Teatro Municipale Valli (Reggio Emilia), and Teatro degli Arcimboldi (Milan).
TEACHING
International teacher and educator with over 24 years of experience.
Academies and schools:
Northern School of Contemporary Dance (UK)
Rotterdam Dance Academy – Codarts
The Place London
Millennium2000 (London)
Fondazione Bartolomei (Rome)
DAF Dance Arts Faculty (Rome)
Contemporary Mood (Florence)
CID Rovereto
Accademia Nico Pepe (Udine)
Accademia Nazionale di Danza (Rome)
Arearea Advanced Training Program (Udine)
Venice Biennale Danza – College Danza (2021, directed by Wayne McGregor)
Festivals and companies:
Freiburg Contact Improvisation Festival, Trentino Danza Estate, Contact Festival Dartington (UK), Thailand Contact Festival, Carolyn Carlson Company, Carte Blanche (Norway), Skånes Dansteater (Sweden), Phoenix Dance Theatre (UK), Balbir Singh Dance Company (UK).
EDUCATION and TRAINING
Surveyor Diploma (1998)
Degree in Physical Education / Sports Science (ISEF) (2002)
Accademia Isola Danza, Venice Biennale (2001 and 2002)
Master’s in Performance – Laban Centre London (2001/2002)
Shiatsu Practitioner – European Institute of Shiatsu (2002–2025), directed by Patrizia Stefanini
First and Second Level Thai Massage Certification (I.T.M. Chiang Mai, 2016)
Swedish Massage Diploma (UK, 2008)
Skills
Contemporary dance, choreography, Contact Improvisation, composition, improvisation, stage movement, shiatsu, various types of massage and bodywork.
Languages
Italian (native), English (advanced – spoken and written; lived in England for 14 years).
FOR THE MOST CURIOUS...
2018
Reworking by Carolyn Carlson of Synchronicity, renamed Crossroads to Synchronicity;
Riccardo Meneghini as movement director and choreographer for the opera Salome, directed by Marina Bianchi for the Fondazione Arena di Verona.
2017
Anima Animus by Riccardo Meneghini – revival and performances.
2016
Bloom (solo for Giulia Piana) by Riccardo Meneghini;
Haiku by Riccardo Meneghini in collaboration with composer and musician Valerio De Paola;
Gender Play by Martina Marini, performances במסגרת Alps Move Festival (South Tyrol);
Seven Seconds by Torsten Schilling;
SBARCHI – Meeting the Odyssey, European project coordinated by Scarlattine Teatri (Greece tour).
2015
ANIMA ANIMUS by Riccardo Meneghini;
SBARCHI – Meeting the Odyssey, European project coordinated by Scarlattine Teatri (Italy tour);
Zeitsprünge by Gabriella Maiorino.
2014
Now by Carolyn Carlson;
Hands Down – Company Chameleon;
Push – Company Chameleon;
I_ENTITY by Riccardo Meneghini, original music by Demetris Zavros;
Opera Unica (improvisation performance), Riccardo Meneghini and Luca Zampar, AREAREA (Udine).
2013
Je me souviens by Riccardo Meneghini, original music by Demetris Zavros.
2012
7+2 Collective – improvisation performances;
HERO by Riccardo Meneghini, original music by Jered Daniel Sorkin;
Terrarium by Simon Birch;
Missing by Douglas Thorpe (Mad Dogs Theatre);
Synchronicity by Carolyn Carlson;
I_ENTITY (solo) by Riccardo Meneghini;
Il Trittico by Riccardo Meneghini.
2011
Eau by Carolyn Carlson;
We Were Horses by Carolyn Carlson and Bartabas;
Inventur, collaboration with Ewald Kontschieder, Brigitte Hochrainer (music), Riccardo Meneghini (dance), Antonia Tinkhauser (actress);
Born Within Four Walls, collaboration between Riccardo Meneghini and Compagnia Controra;
La Visione by Riccardo Meneghini and Vanessa Grasse.
2010
Present Memory – three new works by Malou Airaudo, Carolyn Carlson, and Caterina Sagna;
Crazy Jo and Blind Passion by Slanjayvah Danza Artistic (Jenni Wren);
Here Because We Are Here by Arthur Rosenfeld (Pina Bausch company dancer).
2009
New Creation by Kim Brandstrup at Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House, London;
Improvisation performances at Assembly Room (Leeds), collaboration with School of Performance and Cultural Industries (University of Leeds);
New Creation by Beth Cassani (Leeds);
Cast No Shadow: True North and Small Boats by Russell Maliphant with video artist Isaac Julien;
Spun by Riccardo Meneghini, original music by Demetris Zavros and Yorgo Rodosthenous.
2008
Primo Toccare, Balletto Teatro Torino, by Matteo Levaggi;
Talent – The Institute for Crazy Dancing by Jason Hurd;
Carry on Tripping (duo) by Riccardo Meneghini;
My Body Our Land by Simon Birch.
2007
Les Noces & Dido and Aeneas by Aletta Collins;
Terre di Mezzo by Riccardo Meneghini.
2006
Per Due, dance film by Cristina Caponera;
Hope, Handbags and Hoovers by Lucy Suggate;
Di Sì by Riccardo Meneghini.
2003–2006
My House Is Melting by Beth Cassani;
In Fact You Can… by Michael Popper;
Self Observation Without Judgement by Victor Quijada;
Luxuria by Liv Lorent;
Forty Minutes by Janet Smith;
Mute by Rui Horta;
On the Edge… by Annabelle Bonnery;
Broken by Rui Horta;
Track by Didi Veldman;
Moment by Sean Feldman;
Second Grace by Anthony Missen;
404 by Willi Dorner;
Member of Scottish Dance Theatre (Artistic Director Janet Smith);
Research project with DV8 Physical Theatre (Lloyd Newson);
Idomeneo by Maxine Braham;
Fan Fare, Zephir in Zanussi Dance Company by Helen Plewis.
2002
Au Suivant by Jan De Schynkel;
Oh Mr. Grin by Jasmin Vardimon;
Babel by Robert Moses;
Hairy Days by Maresa von Stockert;
Brightside by Henry Oguike;
Member of Transitions Dance Company (Laban Centre, London).
2001
In Volo by Riccardo Meneghini and Sarah Bellugi Klima.
Riccardoand Contact Improvisation
My relationship with Contact Improvisation began in the late 1990s, when I was fortunate enough to encounter this practice while still a student. My first course was with Maria Tullia Pedrotti, who introduced me to a completely new physical and perceptual language. From there, a whole new world opened up: I continued my studies with Dieter Heitkamp and, over the years, I had the opportunity to learn directly from some of the pioneers and continuators of the first generation of Contact Improvisation, such as Ray Chung, Nita Little, Andrew Woodbury, and other artists who contributed to the development of this field.
These encounters instilled in me not just a technique, but an attitude. Early Contact Improvisation was not a structured or normative form: it was an art sport, a field of exploration where gravitation, momentum, weight, friction, and instinctive reflexes became creative materials. A space where non-hierarchy, listening, reciprocity, and fairness were at the heart of the work.
My professional career as a teacher and pedagogue has developed alongside my dance career. With over 24 years of experience, I have built a solid teaching practice, both within professional companies—such as Scottish Dance Theatre, Transitions Dance Company (Laban Centre), and the Carolyn Carlson Company—and working as a teacher at international institutions such as the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Codarts – Rotterdam Dance Academy, Accademia Nazionale di Danza di Roma, Danza Biennale College – Venice (directed by Wayne McGregor), Daf Dance Arts Faculty (Rome), Fondazione Nico Pepe (Udine), Millennium 2000 (London), and many others.
I have also taught at major festivals including:
Freiburg Contact Festival, Trentino Danza Estate, Contact Festival Dartington (UK), Thailand Contact Festival, as well as numerous intensive workshops in Europe and around the world.
One of the most important principles—often misunderstood in its modern incarnation—was not a rigid “take care of yourself first,” but rather a call for shared attention: caring for one’s own limits while caring for others. Contact was born as a practice of mutual responsibility, not as protective individualism. This spirit of mutual support, awareness, and collective safety continues to be the foundation of my teaching.
This perspective is complemented by my multidisciplinary background: I studied Sports Science (ISEF Verona), have a significant athletic background—eight years of competitive judo and swimming competitions—and extensive training in anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. I also studied Shiatsu at the European Institute Milan–Florence, under the guidance of Patrizia Stefanini, developing an energetic understanding of contact and subtle perception. For over twenty years, all of this has contributed to creating a safe, competent, and conscious learning environment for my students, based on a pedagogy that integrates body, technique, sensitivity, and relationship
For me, Contact Improvisation is a place where dance, sport, anatomy, listening, and instant composition converge. It’s a practice that has been with me for over twenty-five years and continues to nourish my artistic vision, my way of dancing, and my teaching, always keeping alive the original spirit of research, mutual care, and shared exploration.
