When we Collide
When we Collide explores the imprint of an embrace—one that is longed for, remembered, and desperately needed. It begins with absence: a missing embrace that reverberates in the body like the trace of something once deeply felt. As the movement unfolds, the search for this lost connection becomes increasingly urgent, almost unbearable. What starts as a gentle memory turns into a necessity—a physically palpable longing. The piece reaches its climax in a powerful collision—an embrace so intense it borders on destruction.
Duration: approx. 15 min.
Credits
Choreography: Alessio Damiani
Dancers: Enzo Boffa and Alessio Damiani
Music: Path 5, Max Richter
Trailer / Video Reel: Filmed by Alessandro de Matteis, edited by Alessio Damiani
Trailer
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Biographies
Alessio Damiani was born in Palermo, Italy, where he also began his dance training. At the age of eighteen, he joined the Agora Coaching Project in Reggio Emilia under the direction of Michele Merola and Enrico Morelli. From 2013 onward, he worked as a freelance dancer in Italy and Germany before joining the Hessian State Ballet as a guest in March 2017, and becoming a full ensemble member in the 2017/18 season.
Alongside his career as a dancer, Alessio Damiani is also developing his work as a choreographer. In June 2023, he created the piece Burdens of Being for the Hessian State Ballet’s young choreographers’ evening, Startbahn. The work was awarded first prize at the Barnes Crossing Festival SoloDuo in Cologne. It was also presented at Beta Pública during the 39th edition of the Madrid en Danza Festival and selected for the 38th International Competition for Choreography in Hanover. The piece received second prize at the Concurso Coreográfico Burgos y Nueva York, as well as an invitation to the Tanz Biennale Festival 2025 in Heidelberg and a residency at Centro Coreográfico La Gomera in the Canary Islands. The work will next be presented at the Quinzena de Dança de Almada in Portugal.
Enzo Boffa, 22 years old, is from France. His journey into dance began at the age of eight, when he traded his kimono and football for a pair of dance shoes. From that moment on, dancing felt like a natural path for him. At fifteen, he moved to Paris to pursue his dream of a professional dance career. For four years, he worked as a freelance dancer, specializing in urban styles, contemporary jazz, and modern dance. His passion for learning led him to travel extensively and attend workshops, always seeking to broaden his horizons and deepen his understanding of dance. He has had the privilege of working with a wide range of dancers and small companies. His desire for greater creative expression led him to Codarts in Rotterdam, where he was accepted in 2021. This season, he is working as an intern at the Hessian State Theatre.
In talk with Alessio Damiani
What inspired the starting point for your piece, and were there any major challenges along the way?
When I started work on “When we collide” I had one clear imagine in mind, and that was a hug. I tried to explore the sensations, the feelings of it, How is perceived in time and what can create between two humans.
How do collaborations with musicians and dancers shape and influence your creative process?
For me the relation between music/musicians and dance is really strong. It was one of the first time I was using a music that only has few references, almost as a background. This choice fell on Path 5 by Max Richter cause it was always giving me those chills and the memory sensation of a hug.
When did you begin to see choreography as a possible career path for yourself?
I always loved to create, and managed to do many times while being at Hessisches Staatsballett. In 2023 I created a duet “Burdens of Being” that has been well recognized by many choreographic contests such as: 38. Choreographische Wettbewerb in Hannover, CICBUNY in Burgos and as well in festival such as: Quinzena de Dança de Almada, tanzbiennale Heidelberg and recently in festival de Danse de Cannes. In somehow it feels now for me the right place to dive and explore.
How does your experience as a dancer influence your choreographic practice – and in turn, how does choreography influence the way you dance?
Well, being still a dancer makes me work first of all in a different way with the artist I‘m sharing the time with. I have an understanding of how they could feel and I always put the working atmosphere first during the working time. As a dancer I try to take now from the choreographers I worked with the pros and the contras on their working and artistic skills in order to shape than mine following my beliefs.
Is there something specific you hope to communicate to the audience through this piece?
To fell this hug inside their skin thinking about a person that is not here anymore or is only far away and that they would love to hug one more time
How do you choose the title for your piece?
I came to the title „When we collide” thinking about the hug not only on the positive side, but also how this is created in phisics. Two bodies that collide generating a hug.
How do you envision the future of choreography as an art form?
I hope with my future works to have a voice, an artistic voice to denounce social problems but also simple sensations and emotions that are sometimes hidden while we are riding our life as it would be a roller coaster.
For the pieces included in our Work in Progress program: When and how do you decide that a piece is finished – or do you feel a piece is ever truly finished at all?
Well, I thought the piece would have been finalized months ago when I premiered it, but now I m having the chance to make a new longer version to see and dive more into it and see if I can find other interesting meanings of a hug.