Durante Verzola: My name is Durante Verzola. He lives in Miami, Florida and is the resident choreographer at Miami City Ballet School. And I’m working here with the Indiana University Ballet on a revival of my piece called Movement Joyeux, set to Mozart’s music. I didn’t give it a name until it was completed, but once it was completed I learned how much fun it was to dance, and it was also one of the first works I performed on stage after the pandemic. So, by restoring the theatricality to the stage, lighting, and everything else, I wanted the dancers to feel that joy through movement. I actually chose three different selections from three different works by Mozart that focused on the piano. The first movement is from his Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, and it’s really the first movement. I think each movement has its own flavor and aroma. The first movement emphasizes these two principal female dancers and there is a lot of technical point work. And then it’s kind of a call and response between those two dancers, and then we have a group of demi-soloist dancers that break up into trios and quartets. I wanted the first movement to be an explosion of dance. lots of steps. It will definitely be difficult for them both physically and technically.
And the second movement of the ballet is his Piano Concerto No. 21, its Adagio movement. The second movement is very fantastic. I told the dancers that it was like dancing on a cloud. First up are the five demi-soloists, who I described as being like these five muses who inspire each couple to dance. A deviation from the first movement.
And the third movement is from his Concerto No. 10 for two pianos, which is the final movement of that piece, the Rondo. And it’s a full corps de ballet again, led by a high-energy male soloist, with all the dancers from the other movements also coming back, and sort of… you know, encountering each movement. This is the first time the other. That’s why I wanted to show everyone the fun of dancing on stage to beautiful, loud music.
Aaron Cain: I’m always surprised when I talk to choreographers and dancers about inspiration.
Durante Verzola: Yes.
Aaron Cain: So was there something about the piano that spoke to you?
Durante Verzola: All my works come from music. That was the initial inspiration. From there, images of dance and structure are born based on music. Mozart puts a lot of emphasis on the piano in these works, so I utilized it in my arrangements for principal, soloist, and demi-soloist. This means that the main dancer in the piece always dances to the piano part of the music to represent its sound. And in most cases there is a corps de ballet or demi-soloist representing the orchestra. It really comes from the way I was trained as a dancer, where music is always the driving force behind movement. I listen to a lot of music. Fall asleep while listening to music. So it’s only in my body. Once in the studio, I can turn these sounds into movement.
So I think a lot of the modifications that I’ve been giving the IU dancers are really…like playing the piano keys with your feet, or like there’s an internal pedal on the piano that sustains the sound. Whenever the music gets a little sharp and lively, make sure to keep every last note tight and accurate. I believe dancers are most free when they can find the perfect harmony between music and movement. As a result, the audience can feel free, empathize with the movement, and be touched and influenced by what they are seeing. I’m watching it on stage. But it has to be musical. At the same time, while I’m particular about musicality, I also want them to be their own individual personalities. You can feel artistry and expressiveness through movement. And since this piece doesn’t have a narrative, I have to put myself out there and be expressive so that the audience feels something every time they watch it.
Aaron Cain: Durante Verzola, thank you so much for speaking with us today about this project. we are looking forward to it.
Durante Verzola: Thank you.
Aaron Cain: Durante Verzola. Choreographer of Movement Joyeux. The first of four productions to be performed as part of the fall ballet will begin at 7:30pm on Friday night at the Musical Arts Center, with two more performances on Saturday at 2pm and 7:30pm. Ru. For more information, visit operaballet.indiana.edu. WFIU Art, I’m Aaron Cain.
