#FriendsFriday 7 - Valentina Golfieri

Valentina makes some last minute alterations to the Wizard's cape

The finished costumes for Night at The Theatre

Valentina as Angelica in Arthur Pita's 'The Little Match Girl' 

How are you involved with Casson & Friends?

I have just designed costumes for Night At The Theatre, and I also perform The Dance We Made 4 from time to time. 

What do you love about dance?

I love the feeling of dancing, I love watching people dance, and I especially love social dancing. A couple of years ago I worked on a show that revolved around social dancing in the 30s and it was a proper penny drop experience. I realised that for too many years I had been preoccupied with dance solely as an elevated art form, which of course it can be, and forgot how fun it can be. It's also a universal means of communication; I've performed and taught around the globe, and it never ceases to amaze me how although I can't speak Japanese or Thai or Russian I have taught and communicated to dancers from all over the world thanks to the language of dance and movement. 

What song always makes you dance?

Fred Astaire, Cheek to cheek.

(Listen to the #FriendsFriday playlist on Spotify Here: http://bit.ly/friendsfridayplaylist)

What about your other work?

I am Associate Director for Arthur Pita's Open Heart Productions with whom I have just finished the Christmas run of The Little Match Girl at Sadler's Wells. I love that show, we made it three years ago and it feels very close to my heart. In it I get to play the spoilt brat Angelica, the villain of the situation. She's so much fun! I have also been a member of Protein Dance since 2011 as performer as well as rehearsal director. I also guest teach regularly at NSCD. 

Meet more of the Casson & Friends team every Friday with #FriendsFriday!