In 2023, Nicoletta Manni became La Scala Ballet’s first woman to be promoted to étoile in 37 years. The Italian ballerina, who recently sat down for an interview with Pointe during a trip to New York City, talks about performing alongside her husband, the role she’s still eager to dance, battling homesickness as a student, and more.
Tell me about your hometown in Southern Italy.
I was born in Galatina, in a village called Santa Barbara. It’s very small—maybe 100 people—and in the countryside, not far from the sea. I lived there until I was 12, when I moved to Milan to train at La Scala. It’s a very happy place to grow up because you can play and feel free.
Your husband, Timofej Andrijashenko, is a principal at La Scala. How did you meet?
We first met in 2012 at a ballet competition, but he didn’t talk to me. Then two years later, he joined La Scala, and we started dancing together as partners. Our relationship progressed from there!
He proposed to you onstage—what was that like?
We were dancing with Roberto Bolle and Friends at the Arena de Verona, which is the most magical amphitheater in Italy. It seats almost 14,000 people! We were performing Romeo and Juliet, in Verona, where the story takes place. I didn’t know it, but he was planning with Roberto and all the dancers to find the perfect moment to give me the ring. During bows, he led me to the front and when I turned to him, he was on his knee. Even though we were in front of thousands of people, it felt like we were alone in a bubble.
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What is it like to dance together?
It’s hard to find the balance between private life and artistic life, but when you do, it’s a plus because the emotions between us onstage are real. I think the audience can sense it, too. We trust in everything.
What do you enjoy more: performing, or rehearsing in the studio?
I think they are related, because if you have a good process in the studio, then you really feel free onstage. They must work together.
Which accomplishment are you most proud of?
I was very fortunate to have been promoted to étoile at La Scala, which is a title that has only been given to a few people. It had been 37 years since a member of the company had been named étoile, so I know how lucky I am and how much I worked to get there—and still do every day, because the work is never finished.
What was one of your biggest challenges as a young dancer?
Moving to Milan at age 12 to attend La Scala Ballet School. I have a very strong relationship with my parents, so being away from them was very challenging. Every two weekends I’d go home, 12 hours by train—I was too young to fly alone. I’d leave on Friday night, get home Saturday morning, and then leave Sunday evening in time for school on Monday. This helped me get through the hard work I needed to do and still feel connected to my family and home life.
What is the least glamorous part of being a dancer?
Ballet is very popular, and there are so many talented dancers, but there aren’t a lot of job opportunities. Not just in Italy, but all over the world. You have to be lucky to be in the right place at the right moment to start your career. Many people don’t have this opportunity and get lost, change ideas, and do something else. It’s a pity. Ballet must be supported.
If you weren’t a dancer, what would you be?
I really enjoy exploring different characters, so maybe an actress.
What is your biggest indulgence?
Gummy candies. I’m addicted! I always have some with me. I shared this in a television interview in Italy, and since then people who come to watch my performance bring me candies!
Which ballet has been the most difficult to perform?
It’s hard to say, because it depends at which moment of my life the ballet arrived. But when I was younger, Odette/Odile. I was 22 years old, and it was Nureyev’s version of Swan Lake, which is very hard.
Which role is still on your bucket list?
I’d love to explore Maurice Béjart’s Bolero. I danced his La Luna, which was a solo that Béjart created for one of his muses, Luciana Savignano, an Italian étoile. I had a chance to work with her on it, which was very special, and I would love to have more opportunities to dance Béjart’s ballets.
What is your favorite part about dancing at La Scala?
La Scala has so much history, not just for opera but also for ballet. When you dance on that stage you really feel it. It’s a huge privilege to be part of this history.
What is your advice for young aspiring dancers?
Don’t lose time. You need to be brave to begin a dance career—it’s a hard choice for the whole family, because sometimes you have to go far away to pursue your dreams. But be curious and never stop learning and finding sources of inspiration. Hard work does pay off—maybe not immediately, but you will eventually get what you’ve worked for.
The post La Scala Ballet Étoile Nicoletta Manni on Love, Family, and the Payoff of Hard Work appeared first on Pointe Magazine.