In 2005, Ismael Ivo was appointed director of the Dance section. An Afro-Brazilian dancer and choreographer, Ivo focused on the body as the main theme of his first festival, which he later investigated and expanded in the subsequent editions.

Body Attack ran from June 8th to July 2nd, and was the first step of a thorough meditation on the body that considered dance as the ideal medium for the body to question itself, where the gesture is –more than in any other form– the expression of the soul’s moods.

A symposium introduced the themes of the festival on May 28th and 29th, and in the same days the world premiere of William Forsyhte’s installation-performance, You Made Me a Monster, took place as a prologue to the festival. In the program also a photographic exhibition by Dieter Blum, KörperKathedralen.

3rd International Festival of Contemporary Dance: Body Attack

28-29 May, Teatro Piccolo Arsenale THE FORSYTHE COMPANY (Germany) - You Made Me A Monster

8-9 June; 11-12 June, Teatro alle Tese ISMAEL IVO (Brazil/Germany) - Erendira

8-9 June, Gaggiandre dell’Arsenale INDIOS XAVANTES DO MATO GROSSO (Brazil) - Ritual Xavante

10-11 June, Teatro Malibran DANZA CONTEMPORÁNEA DE CUBA (Cuba) - Compas

11-12 June, Teatro Piccolo Arsenale ILARIA SACCHETTA & DANIELA RUGGIERO (Italy) - Fragile

11-12 June, Teatro Piccolo Arsenale SERGIO ANTONINO (Italy) - Millimetri

16-17 June, Teatro alle Tese BEIJING MODERN DANCE COMPANY (China) - Jue - Aware

17-18 June, Teatro Malibran COMPAGNIE MARIE CHOUINARD (Canada) - Body Remix/Goldberg Variations

18-19 June, Teatro Piccolo Arsenale  LOUISE LECAVALIER (Canada) - Cobalt - Rouge

23-24 June, Teatro alle Tese HELENA WALDMANN (Iran/Germany) - Letters from Tentland

24-25 June, Teatro Malibran BALLET DE SANTIAGO (Chile) - Cuerpos pintados

29-30 June, Teatro Malibran TCHETCHE / BÉATRICE KOMBE (Ivory Coast) - Without Reference

30 June-1 July, Teatro La Fenice SHEN WEI DANCE ARTS (USA) - Connect Transfer

1-2 July, Teatro alle Tese ALESSIO SILVESTRIN (Italy/Japan) - Ritrovare; Derivare