Meet Jonathan Colafrancesco | Dance Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jonathan Colafrancesco and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonathan, how do you think about risk?
My story as a professional dance artist is determined by the choice of taking risks. Growing up in a small town back in Italy, I always saw my approach to dance as a passion and my own moment of distraction from my main job as a Hair stylist. After 6 years of juggling my time between these two passions of mine, a once in a life time opportunity knocked at my door. After auditioning for the renowned Certificate Program at Peridance Center in NYC, I was accepted with a full scholarship for 2 years in 2019. It was a though decision to take at the age of 25, having to put aside my main source of income at that moment and move far from my family and community. After all the financial, emotional, physical, and Covid-19 pandemic struggles, I’m now very proud of my Certificate of Excellence with Honors and my proficient dance career as an immigrant artist in the US.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a contemporary dance artist and when I perform it’s very important for me to highlight the communicative aspect of storytelling. Even in the most abstract piece of choreography, I like to set a scenario in my mind that helps me elevate the performance quality. Natural occurrences, the physics of the Universe, and the images humans make around non-tangible things are catalysts of movement for me. Recently. I’ve been commissioned as a guest choreographer for two dance collectives in New York City. My goal for the future is to become a choreographer, and I’m proud I have made the first steps towards this goal.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be able to be where I am today if it wasn’t for the trust of these people; Enzo Celli and Elisabetta Minutoli for introducing me to the professional world of dance back in Italy. Igal Perry, Director of Peridance Center, NY, for giving me the chance to refine my training in dance through the full scholarship at the Certificate Program. Jonathan Hollander, Director of Battery Dance Company and Festival, NY, for guiding me as a mentor through my dance career. All the Organizations that I’ve been a part of since starting my career as a Dance Artist in the US, such as : Nimbus Dance Works, Project Tag, LaneCo Arts, Tabula Rasa Dance Theatre, Spark Movement Collective, Xiang Xu Dance, Terre Dance Collective, Pony Box Dance Theatre and others.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan_colafrancesco/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joncolafrancesco/

Image Credits
Andrea Gianfortuna; Nir Arieli; Megan Maloy; Elyse Mertz; Alice Chacon; Carlotta Ferrera.