Sequoia is divided into three projects – a choreography, research labs, and a retreat open to those who love dance and forests – supported by sponsors such as PlantsPlay, Olfattiva, Vaia and Settore Nazionale Forest Bathing.​

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The idea of Sequoia was born in 2023, during a time when I began to experience intense tinnitus that discouraged and isolated me from the world for a couple of months. It was a very difficult period in which the quality of my life changed overnight. For a moment, I thought that the constant ringing in my ears would drive me mad, but at some point I realized I couldn’t let the tinnitus control my life. I found the strength to react, accepting to live with it and looking beyond. I remember one day, after those couple of months when I was lost in the game of life, I pulled myself together and something pushed me to go to the bookstore. My attention was drawn to the book “Arboreto salvatico” by Mario Rigoni Stern, a collection of stories and information about various trees that turned out to be life-saving. As I read it, I immediately felt better. From that point on, I began transporting myself to forests through books and art, and I learned to enjoy the great therapeutic power of trees in real life as well. That’s how, little by little, the idea of Sequoia was born, and it started to take concrete shape in March 2024 thanks to the support of Sala Nera and the Tempio del Futuro Perduto in Milan, who welcomed me into their spaces and offered me an artistic residency.

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Sequoia's main focus is to explore that “something” we humans perceive when in contact with trees, woods, and forests – something we cannot define.

 

The choreography is meant to be a moment of contemplation and, at the same time, a way of caring for the plant world, offering strong support to it. It is performed by two dancers and unfolds to music composed specifically by Davide Nardelli. Sequoia has already been performed last summer at the 8th edition of the DAP Festival and at the choreographic showcase Pratiche Parallele. Recently, there was another artistic residency organized by DTS Collective where I had the opportunity to refine the material I had already created and expand the choreography. Sequoia will return to the stage in June 2025 as part of the Festival Nutida.

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The research labs often take place in Lombardy, both in dance studios and outdoors, in close contact with trees and the earth. The next sessions will be held at Parco delle Cave in Milan and Monte Orfano in Rovato (BS). In addition, on July 5th, I’ll be leading a workshop at the Dolomiti Wellness Festival 2025!

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Finally, the retreat is a complete immersion into the research of Sequoia, full of creative practices focused on the search for the Self and the unknown. It will take place from September 19 to 21, 2025, at the holistic farmhouse Pian della Castagna, located in the municipality of Bosio, province of Alessandria (Piedmont).