Fabio Falsetti

Geboren: 1996, Teramo (Italy)
Opleiding: Il Balletto, Castelfranco Veneto
Ervaring: Introdans (since August 2016)

“In dance lessons I prefer to be judged by my ability, although we all do the same. In the studio everyone is equal. I find that more interesting than presenting myself solo and showing a teacher or choreographer what I can do well. I think: if you’re really good, then you’ll stand out positively in a group. They’ll pick you out automatically.”

Full of ambition

So says Fabio Falsetti. It’s characteristic of this Italian dancer, who expresses himself on various subjects in a well-considered and precise manner. In English, which he learned at express-train speed after being contracted by Introdans. And he even passed his driving test before leaving his native country. It seemed more practical than doing this in the Netherlands. “In the class you work for yourself. For no-one else. Not for the teacher, not for the director. On the stage you work for the audience, which comes after working for yourself. That’s why pieces you dance as a group are so challenging. You really have to prove yourself if you want to be seen.”

From mountainbiking to ballet

Fabio and his brother Valerio, who is five years younger and plays water polo, grew up in a warm Italian family. In the early years ballet didn’t play any significant role in the family. “I was a mountain biker, just like my father. He did it as a hobby, while I was more fanatical about it and after a while I became regional champion. Apart from that I simply active, like many boys. One day – it was during summer – we were all sitting together under a large parasol on the beach. Our family and the family of a good friend of my father. Their daughter, my age, asked me if I’d like to come to ballet class with her one time. She felt I was so thin and graceful that I would be suitable. Out of curiosity I said yes. And to my surprise I really liked it!”

Education

But quite a few years more would pass before Fabio really committed to dance. At the age of fifteen he chose a study track at school which involved not only theoretical lessons but also two hour dance lessons a day. In the meantime he satisfied his hunger for more by watching YouTube. After school he took private lessons at a small school in Teramo: Il Balletto of Gabriele Cupelli, a former dancer at the English National Ballet and the Neapolitan Teatro di San Carlo. He nurtured Fabio’s talent but after two years realised that this school in this city was too small for him. “Then Gabriele introduced me to Il Balletto di Castelfranco in Veneto. A great school where I worked incredibly hard and learned a great deal. I left behind my companion – the daughter of the family friend who first took me along to ballet – in Teramo. She didn’t continue with it and is now studying in Rome. We’re still in contact!”

Valuable life lessons

“In Veneto I discovered that I had learned many very valuable life lessons from Gabriele.” He jumps up and begins turning pirouettes. “This for instance: complete the entire movement! No good? Then do it again. And again. And again. Until you can complete the movement in full. Gabriele once compared this to building a house. You don’t have the house if a window is still missing. However good it might look. So you have to build it step by step. Even today I can hear him talking in my head. He would be happy to see what a calm and controlled approach I take to this process nowadays.”

From audition to contract

“After Veneto I felt ready to take the step abroad. I had several options because I had won a few competitions. I could go to Belgrade, Toulouse, Madrid, and at a certain moment Introdans in Arnhem became an option as well. I knew the company from YouTube and I had auditioned for an internship. After this audition Roel (artistic director, ed.) came over to me and asked which I would prefer: an internship contract or an employment contract. I couldn’t believe it! The choice was clear, of course, but first I had to do another audition. I’ll never forget that Giuseppe (Calabrese, ed.) called me to give me the result. I didn’t speak English and Roel didn’t speak Italian. So they asked Giuseppe to call me instead. He called from a Dutch number – I had sweaty palms but I still answered, determined to somehow make myself understood. But then it wasn’t necessary. The next day I started learning English.”