Allegra Vianello, a longtime dancer with Malandain Ballet Biarritz, takes center stage in the company’s acclaimed production of The Four Seasons. The performances will mark the company’s highly anticipated Philadelphia debut in May 2025. Known for her exceptional artistry and expressive movement, Vianello brings a unique depth to her portrayal of the changing seasons. In this interview, she shared some insight about the intricacies of her role, the creative process behind the ballet, and what it means to embody Vivaldi’s score through movement.
Debra Danese: How does the company prepare to bring a piece like The Seasons to a new stage? Are there adjustments made in the studio with the venue or audience in mind?
Allegra Vianello: Before leaving on tour, we always rehearse one last time in the studio in Biarritz to make sure everything is ready for the show. Depending on the venues, some arrangements are made already in Biarritz (especially when the stage is smaller than usual), but most of the time the arrangements are made directly on the stage of the new venue. The day of the show, we arrive quite early to the new theater in order to have the time to familiarize ourselves with the new environment. We discover the stage for the first time by taking our ballet class/training on it. It is the best way to take our marks on a new stage. Every stage is different, and it is crucial to take the time to test it before performing on it. Then, after the ballet class, we spend around two hours rehearsing the piece. We go over all the choreography to make sure everyone has the same points of reference and that the dance patterns that Thierry Malandain has imagined are respected. We are used to performing on many different stages, so we get used to new venues quite easily and quickly.
DD: What’s the rehearsal atmosphere like with Malandain’s choreography? Is it more structured, or do you have room for personal interpretation?
AV: Thierry Malandain gives us precise instructions on the way the movement needs to be executed, but not many indications on how to interpret it. He surely has his own idea in mind, but he prefers that we find our own way of interpreting his pieces rather than imposing his point of view. Sometimes it can be challenging, but I think that’s what makes Thierry Malandain’s pieces so special- everyone has the chance to find their own personal interpretation while performing the same choreography.
DD: Are there any specific “seasons” in the piece that stand out to you as especially meaningful or challenging?
AV: The first season, Spring, that opens the piece, is very special to me. I have performed the piece fifty times already, but when the curtain goes up and the music begins, I still have goosebumps! I love it because there is a special atmosphere among the dancers- a mixture between concentration and excitement.
The music makes this season even more special. I am from Venice, the city where Antonio Vivaldi was born, so every time I listen to the famous beginning of the Four Seasons, I think of home.
DD: What do you enjoy most about performing in new places and experiencing different audiences?
AV: Dancing in different venues allows me to discover special places that I would probably never have the chance to see. Every venue is different, and I love taking the time to explore it by walking around when the audience isn’t there yet. I love the way, for a few hours, this new venue becomes my home.
What I also really enjoy is being in front of different audiences. We perform in very different countries, so it’s very interesting to see how the public reacts and responds to the show. Even if we do not see the audience while we dance, we can detect and feel their energy, and this can influence our way of dancing.
Malandain Ballet Biarritz performs May 2-3, 2025 at the Annenberg Center as part of Penn Live Arts. [3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA] https://pennlivearts.org/event/BalletBiarritz