We were lucky to catch up with Claudio Caverni recently and have shared our conversation below.

Claudio, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative and artistic path professionally was when I was around 15 years old. I had been dancing in a small local school in Tuscany, where I grew up. Although I enjoyed it, I hadn’t yet seen dance as more than a hobby. Then the school closed, and I felt completely lost. I was just going to academic school and not doing anything else—but something important was missing. I didn’t want to do any other kind of activity. I knew dance was what I truly loved.

Everything changed when I went to Siena for a Spring Intensive at Ateneo della Danza. It was the first time I danced in a more professional environment, surrounded by incredibly talented dancers. I realized how much work I would need to do to reach their level. It was a difficult moment, seeing how far I had to go made me doubt myself. I felt like I would never be as good as those dancers.

I decided to audition for the professional school, and although I wasn’t quite ready, the director, Marco Batti, saw potential in me. He advised me to begin in the amateur program to strengthen my technique. From that moment on, I committed myself completely. I began traveling to Siena three times a week—an hour and a half each way from my hometown—with the strong support of my family.

After a year of hard work and sacrifice, I auditioned again. This time, the teachers and directors recognized my growth and invited me to join the professional level. They told me that things would only get harder from that point forward, but I was ready. I was happy to hear it, because I understood then that dance was what I truly wanted: to train, to grow, and to express myself through movement.

Soon after, I made the decision to move to Siena at the age of 16 to study full-time at the professional training center. That was the true beginning of my journey.

Claudio, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a dancer and choreographer originally from Tuscany, Italy. My journey into the dance world has been shaped by rigorous training and deep personal passion. After beginning my studies at a young age, I moved to Siena at 16 to train at Ateneo della Danza under Marco Batti, where I immersed myself in ballet, contemporary, character dance, floorwork, and improvisation, building a strong technical foundation. In 2021, I continued my path in New York City at The Ailey School, where I studied Horton, Graham, and Dunham techniques, and worked with choreographers such as Christopher Huggins, Norbert De La Cruz III, Brice Mousset, Renee Robinson, Ronald K. Brown, and Amy Hall Garner.

Throughout my career, I’ve embraced diverse styles, from contemporary and modern to street and cultural forms. My work and dance reflects a fusion of these influences, grounded in authenticity and storytelling. Dance is my language. I don’t like speaking in front of an audience—I prefer to communicate through movement, body, and choreography. My pieces are deeply personal, and I believe in dance that moves with purpose.

I’m especially drawn to themes of power, vulnerability, identity, and resilience. My recent choreographic work, Exousia, selected for a residency with Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company in New York City and featured in several festivals, explores the insatiable hunger for power. Through sharp movements and intense rhythms, the dancers portray the struggle of never feeling satisfied.

What sets my work apart is the emotional clarity and attention to detail I bring to both choreography and performance. I approach each project, not only when I am choreographing but also when I am dancing, with a blend of strong technique and intuitive sensitivity, aiming to create immersive, honest experiences that resonate with audiences.

I’m proud to have performed several times with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater while still a student, including Bird Lives (2021), Festa Barocca (2022), Chasing the Spirit (2023), and Memoria at both New York City Center and BAM. These were foundational experiences that shaped my artistic growth, showing me firsthand how professional dancers and theater artists work at the highest level.

More than anything, I’m proud of creating work that empowers both the performer and the viewer. When someone comes up after a show and says, “I saw myself in that,” or “I felt something I didn’t expect,” I know I’ve done my job. Choreographing brings me true fulfillment, I can think about it for hours without losing focus. Watching something that started in my imagination come to life on other dancers, on stage, is a feeling I can’t compare. This is not just my job, it’s my passion.

For every audience, I hope my work and my dance offer a space to feel, to reflect, and to be moved, both physically and emotionally.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The driving mission behind my creative journey is to use dance as a powerful tool for expression, connection, and empowerment.

My goal is to create work that speaks honestly to the human experience, whether it’s drawn from my own story or from the experiences of the dancers I work with. Dance allows me to express what I can’t put into words, and I truly believe it can reach people on a deep emotional level that language alone cannot.

I care deeply about process and collaboration. For me, choreography isn’t just about creating steps, it’s about creating a space where artists can grow, be seen, and take ownership of their voice. I want to build real stories with real meaning, shaped by the people who bring them to life.

Ultimately, my mission is to make dance that moves with purpose, invites reflection, and leaves a lasting emotional impact on both performers and audiences.

Of course, I also have personal goals for my career. I would love to dance with a company that truly inspires me, but sometimes it feels right to keep certain dreams quietly close. I trust that with the dedication and work I’m putting into my art, the right opportunities will come.

My dream is also to choreograph for companies around the world, working with dancers, artists, and communities from different places. Meeting new people and hearing their stories always inspires me, to create new interesting material. I want to keep learning and growing through these experiences, creating meaningful pieces together, one step at a time.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think artists are rarely truly supported, maybe because through art, we hold a certain kind of power. The goal of an artist is to speak to society and to people in a different way than words do. Sometimes it’s harder to understand, but that’s exactly what makes it so powerful and important. We can’t always live in the “easy part”, as artists, we are the first to know that reaching any goal takes determination and sacrifice from a young age.

Schools should be the first to prioritize the arts, instead of treating them as a second choice or something less important than other subjects. Young artists deserve the same opportunities to study the arts as they do to study math or history. But for some reason, the arts are often treated like a category B option. They should be more accessible to everyone.

Governments should support artists from the beginning, by helping schools include and promote strong artistic programs.

Art is culture, and history shows us that humans have always lived with art. We’ve always danced, painted, made music, it’s a natural part of who we are. But today, art has become a luxury. If you can’t afford it, you often can’t access it, and that’s not what art was ever meant to be. Art was created to help people escape the ordinary. It was meant for everyone, not just for a privileged few.

I always try to support the arts, and especially other artists, starting with my friends and extending beyond.

When artists are truly supported, they can create without fear, take risks, and offer something deeply needed in today’s world: truth, empathy, and inspiration.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: _claudiocaverni_
• Facebook: Claudio Caverni
• Other: tiktok: claudiocaverni

Image Credits

Personal photo and photo 7: confidanz

Photo 1,3,4,6: Nir Arieli