Gianna Carnevalino
Without risk, we remain in the same place time and time again. Valuing process and performance equally allows for unexpected moments to be encouraged and arise.
Biography
Gianna Carnevalino is a choreographer, dancer, actor, and singer currently based in the Greater Philadelphia Area. She was born and raised in the Philly suburbs where she danced for 12 years. They recently graduated from Muhlenberg College with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Dance, with concentrations in acting and choreography. In college, she trained in the styles of ballet, modern, and improvisation. She also traveled abroad to London, England to study acting at Florida State University’s Theater Academy London. Her work is inspired by the theater company Punchdrunk and has choreographed for a departmental production and directed Love in Idleness, an immersive adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Carnevalino favors creating immersive projects, as she values the intimacy that comes with witnessing movement in this setting. As a dancer, she has performed in works by Fredrick Earl Mosley, Ruddy Frias, and Amy Miller. She has collaborated and been mentored by Natalie Gotter, Megan Flynn, and Michael Bihovsky, all who have taught her independence and to create with conviction. She has also worked with Jessie Dean and Leo Wringer. Carnevalino has Artistic Directed two dance shows at Muhlenberg College. She was the Associate Artistic Director to Megan Flynn for Reset: New Dances ‘21 and the Artistic Director for Digital Dopamine.
Artist Statement
I am a multidisciplinary artist… a director, choreographer, dancer, singer, and actor. I perform in plays, musicals, and dance concerts, all of which connect and supplement my work as a maker.
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What and how I create are heavily influenced by my life experiences. They either impact what I say as a director and choreographer, or how I lead the process. When I was fourteen years old, I sustained a broken neck that required a level one fusion. I thought my dancing days were over, considering I had difficulty moving my body for years following the injury. Little did I know this would light a fire within me. Life can be over in the blink of an eye, because of this experience, I appreciate life so much more than before. I perform and create with conviction because I am enthusiastic about life.
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I am enamored by immersive productions. It is a place where theater and dance melt together like butter. I aim to work in locations with multiple rooms that allow the audience to be on the same level as the performers. That way they can walk among the new world and become part of it. I adapt classical texts into movement and scenes, drawing inspiration from the performance location.
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Starting my training at Muhlenberg College, I was taught about proper alignment and care of the body. This has bled into my choreographic process, as I utilize improvisation and collaboration to generate movement. This allows for care within the choreographic process because their own movements are incorporated into the piece. I check in with my dancers to ensure they are using proper alignment whenever possible. My works explore impulse both in process and in performance. I am also interested in the exploration of our societal habits, and how they influence our connections with one another, like our dependency on technology, and the rigid and perfectionistic mentality fostered within American culture.
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It brings me joy to generate movement from spontaneity and text. I have learned to create with conviction which allows me to make bold choices and take risk. Without risk, we remain in the same place time and time again. Valuing process and performance equally allows for unexpected moments to be encouraged and arise. Adhering to this model ensures that I am constantly growing and evolving as a performer and maker, while also honoring those I collaborate with.
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