Artistic Director

Mauro Astolfi is one of Europe’s leading contemporary dance voices. As choreographer and educator, he has developed an original and shape shifting movement language with both native and global roots. After an extensive career in America, he founded the Spellbound Contemporary Ballet in 1994 in collaboration with Valentina Marini. Today, the company is a vessel of his choreographic framework and a central springboard for emerging choreographers worldwide. The company integrates Astolfi’s distinct voice with the technical excellence of his dynamic dancers to create exceptional works. As independent artist, Astolfi‘s work transcends the global dance audience with credits including: Resident Choreographer for Kitonb Extreme Theatre (2004), Amsterdam’s Theatreschool (2005), original work “Libera Risonanza” for Balletto di Roma (2009), Hungary’s SzegediKortárs Balett (2010), musical “I Promessi Sposi – Opera Moderna” with director Michele Guardì (2010), “Hold Me In This Storm” for Germany’s Liepziger Ballet in collaboration with Leipziger Opera for INTERSHOP project (2011), “Contact Me” for USA’s River North Chicago Dance Company (2011). Later in 2011 Astolfi and Israel’s Adi Salant (of Batsheva Dance Company) created the “Dance is a cultural bridge between Italy and Israel” project, a cross-cultural collaboration sponsored by MUIR (Italian University and Research Ministry), the Flavio Vespasiano Foundation and the municipality of Rieti. In 2012 he made “Humanology – Site Specific youth project” produced by Festival Oriente Occidente premiering at Auditorium Melotti in Rovereto and a new commission “Instant God” for USA’s BalletX. In 2013 Astolfi joined forces with Georg Reischl, Cayetano Soto, Jo Strømgren (of MINUTEMADE) for Gärtnerplatztheater in Monaco-Germany. From 2015-2016 he frequented Canada creating new works for the artists of Vancouver Arts Umbrella Dance Company and ProArteDanza in Toronto, then three new commissions in 2017 for Theater Magdeburg in Germany, the Israel Ballet, and Compania Colombiana de Ballet for the Contemporary Dance Biennial in Colombia. Astolfi returned to the States in 2018 for a new work for Backhausdance and in 2020 he created a project with Germany’s Ballet Trier. Between 2021 and 2023 his artistic cooperation is also embracing Augsburg Ballet and  Giessen Stadttheater in Germany and  Theater St.Gallen and  Buhnen Bern in Svitzerland. In addition to a prolific choreographic career, Mauro Astolfi balances his role as master educator. He is Artistic Director of the D.A.F Center (Dance and Arts Faculty – International Dance and Performance Arts Project) from 2009 and guest teaching artist at the Opera Ballet School 2016 – 2018, both in his home of Rome, Italy.