Central to Nicola Mascia’s work is the questioning and deconstruction of cultural and social definitions, gender and national identity with a marked emphasis on both queer and pop culture, diversity, inclusion and unconventionality.
Acquired and developed through his artistic practice and the subversion of the traditional hierarchical concept of teaching, his educa- tional methodology is an inclusive, malleable platform that welcomes diversity in all its forms. A laboratory for experimentation, an open and playful dialogue to learn from one another, to share with each other.
Contact contemporary is a guided movement practice, aiming to awake and stimulate higher sensorial awareness. A constant flow of instructions will be interpreted and em- bodied by each of the participants.
Specific principles, textures, images and states will be gradually introduced and over- laid to expand availability and malleability of both body and mind. The practice builds up from individual self-discovery, to part- nering, to more elaborate and complex group dynamics. By encouraged risk taking, corporeal weight and physical forces will be activated to reach and overcome exhaus- tion, master endurance and engage in contact improvisation strategies.
Nicola Mascia is an independent performer and choreographer born in Italy, based in Berlin. He has developed a distinct language within the realms of contemporary dance. As a first generation ensemble member of Sasha Waltz & Guests, Nicola Mascia is in- volved in creation, performance and international touring of numerous key pieces of the company since 1996 (to name a few: »Allee der Kosmonauten«, »Zweiland«, »Körper«, »noBody«, »insideout«, »Kreatur«) and the improvisation format »Dialoge« (to name a few: Jüdisches Museum, Palast der Republik, Neues Museum, MAXXI, Elbphilharmonie). With Matan Zamir he founded the choreographer duo matanicola in 2005. Their body of work includes eight stage productions and several site specific performances. Since 2021 Nicola Mascia pursues his choreographic practice independently. He collaborated with Emio Greco/PC, Benoît Lachambre, Constanza Macras, Jeremy Wade, Meg Stuart, and Yasmeen Godder among others. Nicola Mascia was member of the Schaubühne Berlin ensemble, guest soloist at the Royal Swedish Ballet and works as rehearsal director and teacher internationally. He was lecturer in dance at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon; Zentrum für Zeitgenössischen Tanz, HfMT Köln; HMDK Stuttgart; Lewis & Clark College, Portland and Konzervatoř Duncan Centre, Prague, and regularly works as trainer for companies such as Sasha Waltz & Guests, Dorky Park, Cie. Toula Limnaios, and Staatsballet Berlin. He received the Kurt Jooss Prize for Choreography in 2007 and the Best Onscreen Performance Award at the Toronto Moving Pictures Festival in 2004.
