Domenico Franchi Costume designer

First of all Domenico listens carefully, a less obvious activity than it might appear at fifirst sight. He listens to the idea. And then he asks, adds details and immerses himself more and more in the story and in the meaning of the work. He goes in search of this, of the core, of the heart of the idea and he tries to see with ever greater clarity the vision that I am proposing to him, looking without judgment at a stretch of water that reflflects his face and mine together. A period of silence follows; precious moments in which Domenico elaborates images, collects possibilities, and travels. Here are the sketches. Actually, when time and conditions are favorable, he produces real works of art, fifinished, which could easily live their own lives. The creative act is accomplished. In his studio he photographed me for a long time while I danced, looking for the spaces, the volumes, the directions of that movement that he would dress, to make it uncovered and visible. Creating clothes for dance is not that simple, it imposes particular limitations dictated by the needs of movement. It requires willingness to look for functional solutions, without giving up the idea. Dance often proves to be a rather uncomfortable place for the costume designer, sometimes frustrating. Not for Domenico, who seeks and therefore finds.

(Giulia Gussago, Choreographer)