Ph: Lucas Chilczuk | Design: Mile Belmonte
THE LAST OF NIJINSKY:
ANIMA ANIMAL | PART 1
Nijinsky, the most irreverent dancer of all times.The figure that revolutionized the performing arts at the dawn of the 20th Century.
He abandoned the stage very suddenly and it was in Argentina where he left behind a project that remained unfinished.
Until now.
Ph: Carlos Villamayor
THE PROJECT
Inspired by Vaslav Nijinsky's legacy, Herman Cornejo honors it a century later with a groundbreaking piece.
This work delves into love, community, peace, war, redemption, and our connection to nature. It follows a man's journey to discover his true self by embracing the noble animal instincts within us all.
THE
ORIGINS
OF ANIMA
In 2021, Herman Cornejo was awarded a scholarship from the Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University.
His project, "Re-imagining Nijinsky," aimed to delve into the ballet "Caaporá," an indigenous Guarani legend about the mythical origin of the Urutaú bird, which was Vaslav Nijinsky’s last professional interest.
"Caaporá" was penned in 1915 by Alfredo González Garaño and
Ricardo Güiraldes. Proposed to Nijinsky during his final trip with Les
Ballet Russes to South America, he started to work on it. Very soon
after, he got sick and never danced again.
Herman's scholarship involved researching various aspects of the
Urutaú legend and the Guarani tribe's beliefs and worldview, as well
as the cultural landscape of Argentina in the early 20th century, and
its connection with Les Ballet Russes' modernism and Nijinsky's
style.
Through his research, Herman discovered common themes among indigenous tribes, emphasizing nature's importance in maintaining balance and the universal struggle against evil forces. This exploration led him to a profound realization: the necessity of embracing nature and redefining humanity's relationship with it.
Inspired by this journey, Herman envisioned a new choreography that not only communicates ethical viewpoints through movement but also gives voice to the Earth itself. Drawing from Guarani culture, he aimed to shed light on modern humanity's crises and the urgent need for a mystical reconnection with nature.
His project, which delved into “Anima Animal,” serves as a reflection on our complex modern existence and the imperative to rethink our place within nature.
The piece was co-produced and premiered at the Teatro del Bicentenario in San Juan, Argentina in December 2022 as part of an unprecedented collaboration.
Ph: Carlos Villamayor
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Herman Cornejo assembled a dynamic team of acclaimed artists for the creation of "Anima Animal," a groundbreaking project at the intersection of dance and music, celebrating Latin American culture.
Leading this collaboration is Anabella Tuliano, a visionary choreographer recognized as one of Latin America's foremost talents in the past decade, and director of the dance company, Grupo Cadabra, whose members were active participants in the creative process.
The original score for "Anima Animal" was crafted by internationally acclaimed musicians Luis Maurette, known as DJ Uji, and Noelia Escalzo.
ArgArgentine-born Herman Cornejo is one of the most celebrated dancers of our present time.
At 16 he won the Gold Medal at the VIII International Moscow Competition, being the youngest dancer to get this award in the history of the event until now. In 1998, at 17, he was invited to join ABT Studio Company. He officially joined American Ballet Theatre in 1999. He was promoted to soloist in 2000 and to Principal Dancer in 2003. Since then, he has been one of the greatest stars of the company.
Considered a prodigy by teachers and critics alike, he has received numerous awards and honors: he was appointed Messenger of Peace by UNESCO; ‘Dancer of the Year’ by The New York Times; Star of the 21st Century in 2005; ‘Mr. Expressivity’ in the International Ballet Festival ‘Dance Open’ in St. Petersburg in both 2010 and 2013; 2013 ‘New York Dance Outstanding Performer ‘The Bessies Award’ presented by the ‘NY Dance & Performance League’; in 2005 and 2014 Benois de la Danse, which defined him as the best dancer of the year; in 2018, Best World Male Dancer ‘Positano Award’; in 2019 the Platinum Konex as the best Argentine male dancer of the last decade. In 2022 he was one of the recipients of the prestigious Dance Magazine Awards.
He has performed the entirety of the classical repertoire, and also works regularly with today’s finest choreographers: Justin Peck, Christopher Wheeldon, Jorma Elo, Alexei Ratmansky, Twyla Tharp, Stanton Welch, Martha Clarke, Russell Maliphant, Mark Morris, Benjamin Millepied, Wayne McGregor.
Cornejo has also choreographed for himself: ‘Tango y Yo’ for Dance Open Festival 2010 in Saint Petersburg, ‘Two sunsets’ for the ‘Dance against Cancer’ event in 2012, ‘Transcendence’ in collaboration with bandoneonist JP Jofre for the Kings of the Dance Tour 2014, ‘Dentro’ and ‘Momentum’ with pianist Bruce Levingston for Trio ConcertDance, and ‘Milongón’ in 2016, in honor of Damian Woetzel’s first decade as director of the Vail International Dance Festival. In 2022, he created ‘The Apartment’ to Piazzolla’s ‘Suite del Angel’, commissioned by The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Live Arts as part of Catalyst Quartet's 2022-2023 MetLiveArts residency.
This 2024 he reaches a fundamental milestone in his career celebrating 25 years with American Ballet Theatre, continuing to represent the prestige of the company around the world.
Ph: Lucas Chilczuk
Anabella Tuliano
Choreographer
Anabella Tuliano is a multifaceted professional, serving as a choreographer, teacher, and lawyer. She is the Director and founder of Compañía Cadabra, one of the most renowned dance independent companies in South America, and has been honored with the Elena Smirnova Award for Revelation in Contemporary Dance.
Tuliano's choreographic portfolio includes notable works such as "Domestícame" (2011), "Cadabra" (2011), "No te duermas vencido" (2014), "Idaki" (2015), "Lo que tenía que ser" (2017), and "Coraje!"
(2021) for Grupo Cadabra. Additionally, she created "Infima Constante" for the Contemporary Ballet of Teatro San Martín, directed by Mauricio Wainrot, premiered in 2013 and revived in 2016.
She has crafted bespoke pieces for prominent figures in Argentina's ballet scene.
Tuliano's versatility extends to collaborating with international dancers, crafting a solo inspired by the legend of the Urutaú for American Ballet Theatre’s Principal Dancer Herman Cornejo.
As an educator, Tuliano has shared her expertise at prestigious institutions such as the Contemporary Dance Festival of Buenos Aires and the Universidad Nacional de San Martín.
Grupo Cadabra
Grupo Cadabra, led by Anabella Tuliano, is a prominent Argentine dance company with a decade of rich history. Their journey has been marked by significant milestones, being one of the most long-standing independent contemporary dance companies in Argentina, showcasing a unique style.
Their accolades include participation in esteemed events like the Gala Danzamérica and the Marianela Nuñez Gala, as well as recognition from the Argentine Dance Council and UNESCO.
Recently, their contributions to the cultural landscape were acknowledged by the Buenos Aires Legislature, highlighting their enduring impact on the arts scene.
Noelia Escalzo
Musician & Composer
Noelia Escalzo is a highly accomplished composer and conductor, who specializes in popular traditional music and folklore of Argentina. Escalzo won the TROMBONANZA 2014 International Composition Competition.
She composed the first concerto for contra forte and symphony orchestra titled "Tango Fantasy," commissioned by Maestro Lewis Lipnick of the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington.
Escalzo's compositions have been acclaimed worldwide, with premieres across various countries by esteemed orchestras including the National Orchestra of Colombia, and Youth Orchestra of Mexico, among others.
She has composed exclusive pieces for renowned international soloists such as Lewis Lipnick, James William, and Premysl Vojta.She lectures at universities in Europe and the United States on Latin American music. Educated at Berklee College in Boston, Uji is a sound researcher, a DJ, and sound engineer.
Luis “Uji” Maurette
Musician, composer & DJ
He stands out as one of South America's most innovative electronic music producers, renowned for his genre-defying compositions. His captivating soundscapes blend indigenous and natural elements with modern dance music aesthetics, creating trance-inducing experiences.
Drawing from his nomadic upbringing across the Americas, Uji has spent the last 17 years delving into South America's ancestral traditions as an ethnomusicologist and documentarian. His dynamic live performances have captivated audiences worldwide, with extensive tours across Europe, the United States, Asia, and Latin America.
Uji has graced prestigious festivals such as ADE in Amsterdam and Mutek Montreal. His recent work, "Ser Tiempo," was the subject of a documentary by Colombian director Carlos Rivera, premiered at the Kronos Festival in Barcelona in October 2020.
Clifton Taylor
Lighting & Scenic Design
Clifton Taylor (lighting designer) Broadway: Frozen, Jay Johnson: The Two and Only, Hot Feet. Off-Broadway credits include several productions for City Center Encores as well as several commercial plays and musicals including Freud’s Last Session, Last Easter, Endgame, and Anne of Green Gables.
In addition to his work in New York, Mr. Taylor has created lighting, projection, and scenic designs for opera and theater companies in Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America.
His designs for dance have been commissioned for the repertories of Alvin Ailey, Cedar Lake, Martha Graham, ABT, Washington, San Francisco, Rio de Janeiro, and London’s Rambert Ballet companies, among many others.
SYNOPSIS
A colossal explosion in the universe sparks the creation of our planet Earth.
Human life unfolds in various stages, culminating in the ultimate purification of the soul, intertwined with the essence of the animal spirit within.
Guyra, an indigenous warrior, grapples with the complexities and anxieties of human imperfection. It's amidst this journey that he encounters Yvy, an indigenous woman of another tribe, giving rise to a profound and transcendent love between them.
However, tragedy strikes as the Earth is engulfed in a devastating flood, leading to conflict and war among communities.
In the chaos, Guyra, confronting aggression, harms a white man with an arrow, inadvertently taking the life of his beloved Yvy as well.
In a poignant transformational process, Guyra metamorphoses into a bird, soaring into the darkness toward a celestial eternity.
Ph: Carlos Villamayor
Ph: Carlos Villamayor
PREMIERE IN NEW YORK
February 17 - 23, 2025
The piece will have its premiere at the Joyce Theatre in New York in February 2025.
Ph: Carlos Villamayor
Ph: Carlos Villamayor
HOW TO
DONATE
All donations intended for the premiere of "Anima Animal" at the Joyce Theater will be directed through The Field, an organization established in 1985 that serves as a hub for connections and innovation among artists of all disciplines in the United States, via HERMAN CORNEJO CREATING ART, LLC.
The Field offers fiscal sponsorship to fund artistic projects with tax-deductible individual donations and grants.
Contributions to The Field earmarked for HERMAN CORNEJO are 100% tax-deductible. Donations can be made ONLINE, with a credit card, ACH or wire, or a check.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FOR DONORS
Acknowledgment letters for all donations are sent to the donor immediately upon completing the transaction.
Those who can contribute to this project will also receive special benefits, including:
● Meet & Greet with Herman Cornejo
● Attendance at a Rehearsal
● Attendance at a Toast following the Premiere
● Special Acknowledgment on Social Media and in Press materials by Herman Cornejo
● Inclusion in the Sponsors Section on the Anima Animal website
● Special Acknowledgement in the Show’s Program
Ph: Carlos Villamayor