GUT REACTION Percussive Dance Theatre is a performative ensemble based in Berlin and touring worldwide.
The company, founded by the drummer MARCO RIVAGLI and the choreographer GIULIA MANDELLI in January 2015, has been experimenting with ways to combine the art of contemporary dance with the visceral energy of playing the drums.
In addition to experimenting with the trinity of forms Percussion, Dance and Theatre, each piece created by GUT REACTION seeks to interrogate the structure and boundaries of human minds, bodies, and emotions.
The unique style that characterizes them, leads the audience on a journey into the most improbable imaginings through an investigation where theatre, body movement, music and rhythm collide.
THE COMPANY
GIULIA MANDELLI - Artistic Director, Choreographer & Performer
was born in Crema (Italy) in 1990. She begins studying Ballet in the local Dance School at the age of 3.
After mastering the studies of the Academic Ballet Techniques in several Professional National Centers with renowned teachers like Marinel Stefanescù, Liliana Cosi, Margarita Smirnova and Carmen Ragghianti, becomes student of the “Beltrami's Academy” state department of contemporary dance where she gets a degree in 2012.
Soon after that, Giulia starts dancing in several projects in Berlin.
From October 2012 becomes part of “Dagipoli Dance Theatre” in Athen (Greece), therefore participating also for the BioMechanix European project. In 2013 Giulia comes back to Germany, dancing in various Siciliano Contemporary ballet's piéces. She also works in many other projects like “Istant /Berlin” and “SetTanz Theatre” in Nuremberg. On January 2015 co-creates the performative Project “GutReaction, Percussive Dance Theatre” with the musician Marco Rivagli. Project with which she is traveling, creating and performing around Europe.
MARCO RIVAGLI - CoDirector, Music Composer & Performer
was born in Italy in 1987 in a family of musicians. He starts playing drums and percussions at the age of 3, studying with many international teachers. He also frequented the CFM and the Berklee Summer School (Umbria Jazz). From the age of 18 he's part of many famous TV festivals like SANREMO, Tezenis Live and, as testimonial drummer for VODAFONE, in every mainstream Italian TV channel. During the years, has the pleasure to collaborate in Czech Republic, Spain, Russia, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Greece, Mexico, Costa Rica and UK with many artists, like: The Fuzztones, Sofi de la Torre (Warner), Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Simonetta Haupstadtharfe (MTV music awards), Experiment N.Q (Therion), Philipp Gorbachev&The Naked Man (BOILER ROOM, CTM, Outline) & Rabia Sorda. In Jan 2016 plays for the official German release party for the last David Bowie's album “Blackstar” in the legendary HANSA STUDIOS, where HEROES was recorded amongst other all-time classics. Marco has also played for the private celebration of the UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2015 finals in Berlin.
On January 2015 co-creates the performative duo “Gut Reaction, Percussive Dance Theatre” with the dancer Giulia Mandelli.
Marco is now based in Berlin where he performs,
teaches and produces new creations with the Gut Reaction
and many different other projects.
NAHUEL WOLFGANG ARIAS - Performer & Drummer
was born in Cles (1991), Italy, from an Argentinian family. His first encounter with music is in high-school where he starts playing guitar and joins soon many local bands. It's in 2012 that he finally discovers and falls in love with the world of percussion and, after having studied with different teachers, he decides to move to Berlin in 2015, where he meets Marco Rivagli. He then starts taking drum lessons with him, bringing his skills and focus to the next level. At the end of November 2017 Marco and Giulia Mandelli ask him to join Gut Reaction during the creation of their pièce "Plastic". At the moment Nahuel dedicates all of his efforts to music and performing arts, playing with the Berlin based electro rock-pop band Natalie's High, working with Gut Reaction and collaborating with other different bands and projects in the local and international scene.
GUEST ARTIST
CECILIA CASTELLARI - Dancer & Performer
grew up in Italy and received her dance training at the Goh Ballet Academy in Vancouver and at the Codarts Dance Academy in Rotterdam. She received her first engagement as a dancer at the Lucerne Theater. Since the 2015/16 season she is a permanent ensemble member of the Tanztheater at the Staatstheater Braunschweig. She joined GUT Reaction in June 2020.
OUR COLLABORATORS
FEDERICA VILLI - Photographer
Was born in Riva del Garda (Italy) in 1993. She has been
fascinated with photography since childhood spending hours in her cousin’s darkroom, developing analogue films and discovering this passion.
In 2007 she attends the Art Institute Hight School where she learned graphic design, digital and analogue photography,post-production and video making.
After attending the University of Trento in Cultural Heritage-
History Art, in 2016 she graduated. During that period she
does different internships in events and exposition in the North of Italy. Like the “Sommolago” books label and “SmarmellataProject” music and art events.
In 2017 she moved to Berlin where she takes part at the “The Visual House” school, a Directing course with Marco Zaccaria,with which is still working as First Camera Assistant for “Generation Berlin” an unreleased series. Thanks to those skills she also collaborated in the short movie “Revolta!” an Osm Studio Production.
Currently, beside working at the Zalando’s Studio, she
collaborates with different art projects shooting for bands,
music events and models. She is the official Berlin based
photographer for the “NOTE.Berlin” a Finnish Hair-Salon
brand. Recently she had the opportunity to make pictures for the 40’s year Album of “The Fuzzstones”. Since 2018 she is following “Gut Reaction Theatre” as fan and photographer in most of their shows!