IN CONVERSATION WITH ANTONIO SPINELLI
interview by JANA LETONJA
Italian dancer Antonio Spinelli has worked with huge artists on incredible events, and has also collaborated and dressed with huge brands such as Ferragamo, MM6 Margiela, GCDS and Dsquared2. Among his most notable performances, he was part of Rosalia’s ‘Motomami World Tour’, he danced for Dua Lipa and Bad Bunny, and was one of the dancers for Peso Pluma at the 2024 Coachella Music Festival.
shirt, jacket, bag and jewelry VERSACE
shorts DSQUARED2
socks LORO PIANA
shoes TIMBERLAND x VENEDA CARTER
sunglasses GUCCI
You’ve worked with some of the biggest names in music, including Rosalia, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, and Peso Pluma. What have been some of the most memorable moments from these collaborations?
I believe that every project and performance has a special place in my heart, but one that I will always cherish in my memory is this one night in Barcelona during the tour where the crowd gradually started to turn on the flashes of their phones, and I remember being absorbed in their lights that seemed to pop up one by one like fireflies in a dark night and suddenly my whole view was an arena full of thousands of flashes and people singing together. It was really a magical moment for me, because when you capture that instant of being fully present, you really share energy and life with those people, and that’s the beauty of being on stage for me.
Also, I had another special moment this year at Coachella. During the performance, it’s hard to see the crowd as far as you can and where it ends, so I tried to look at the iconic ferris wheel at the end of the park. That quick glance was the only thing that made me realise the amount of people watching us and what a blessing it is to be performing for such a massive audience and special event.
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shirt and pants OFF WHITE
sneakers DIOR MEN
jewelry ANTICHITA PETRONE
sunglasses BALENCIAGA
right
top DSQUARED2
shirt and pants JUUN J
jewelry ANTICHITA PETRONE
boots FERRAGAMO
shirt, jeans and necklace DOLCE&GABBANA
jacket BURGIO
boots SONORA
jewelry ANTICHITA PETRONE
You’ve worked across various genres of music. How do you adapt your dance style to fit the unique energy of each artist you work with?
This is one of the best challenges that we face in our field and honestly a big part of this work is supported by the amazing job of the choreographers, who try to bring the genre into moves. I always find it really fascinating and incredibly exciting to have the chance to dive in and learn about a specific style and genre, like Corrido or Flamenco. I always try to approach it in a very humble and curious way, while trying to be as respectful as I can be towards the culture it derives from and what it represents, like Mexican and Spanish ones. I find this process always a wonderful journey, which nourishes the soul and gives the honour and opportunity to portrait a culture and its people. For me, it represents a duty to try your best to learn about it and embrace it in the best way possible.
You’ve also collaborated with iconic brands like Dsquared2. How do you merge your artistry as a dancer with your work in fashion?
I have always enjoyed fashion because I see it as a beautiful area where I can experiment and really have a good time. I feel it flows into my art because, since I had started dancing as a child and had to go on stage to perform, I have always seen dressing up as more of a fun game where you could transform into anyone. For this reason, I have always seen clothes more as costumes and as a way to portray yourself differently, for experimentation, having fun and putting on a character. I love it, I like to try different things, and I try not to put limits on it, whether it is mine or any other creative’s output.
As I do for dance and moving freely, I just go with the flow of what makes me feel good and use it as a reminder to never take myself too seriously. I see it as something that can be used to step out of the ordinary and add a bit of sparkle to everyday life, even in simple details.
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shirt and pants OFF WHITE
sneakers DIOR MEN
jewelry ANTICHITA PETRONE
sunglasses BALENCIAGA
As the only Italian artist ever invited to an ERL show, how did it feel to represent your country in such a significant way?
I felt really honoured and grateful to represent my country, as I do every time I have the opportunity, but on this one, I was particularly in awe to be there and to experience such an outstanding show in that incredible historical venue and above all, in such a culturally significant place for our country as Florence. Whenever something like that has happened in my career, I have felt extremely honoured. I have been doing it with the responsibility and the goal to push the boundaries of what the role of the dancer as an artist has been in my country. Being in that position has meant a lot to me and has helped to show that we, as dancers, can accomplish great things as well.
How would you describe your personal style, and how does it reflect your personality as an artist?
Honestly, whenever I am doing normal daily activities, such as shopping or going to the gym, I like to wear comfy clothes and streetwear. Sometimes I feel like I always use the same shoes to work out in the gym and go to dance class, and most of the time I wear trousers and a hoodie. However, when I go out for a walk, go shopping or to a party, I love to be more extravagant and put on a full look. I enjoy matching colours or playing with layers, and most of all, I like to add details with a lot of jewels. I believe that jewellery can give a major switch to outfits.
I suppose this contradiction is very reflective of my personality, because when I’m not performing, I like to stay more relaxed and enjoy a simple life of daily routines and comfortable clothes, yet as soon as it’s time to spice things up and go out, I like the feeling of being back on stage under the lights.
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shirt, jeans and necklace DOLCE&GABBANA
jacket BURGIO
boots SONORA
jewelry ANTICHITA PETRONE
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jacket and boots FERRAGAMO
pants PRONOUNCE
sunglasses TOM FORD
bag DIOR
earrings ANTICHITA PETRONE
Dance and fashion both express creativity in unique ways. How do these two art forms inspire and influence each other in your career?
I think all artistic expressions influence each other so much and mixed with your experience, create your own taste. For me, dance and music are everywhere, in any step of my days. I feel that they influence me almost in everything and when it comes to clothes and fashion, when I try an outfit, I am already seeing myself dancing in it, even in a tracksuit.
Same works the other way. When I think about fashion, like watching a fashion show or a lookbook, I focus on the movement of the clothes and how they impact the aesthetic of the body and the project, and it really changes everything. When you want to build up a show, a video or whatever project, you are trying to make a vision come to life and it is inevitable to think about a whole mood within the fashion inside. Clothes are a major part of the imaginary that you are trying to build up, and mixed with the movement, they instantly give the audience a specific world and category of what you trying to represent. That’s why I really believe they are always interconnected and that’s the beauty of it, jumping from one thing to the other, enjoying the experimental process.
As an Italian dancer breaking barriers in the global entertainment industry, how do you stay connected to your roots while embracing your international career?
This is something so important and so meaningful to me. I have a really big connection with my roots and the city that I come from. Napoli is a city full of life. The best way to describe it is that we live loudly over there, you can walk around feeling the vibrant soul of the city, people screaming through the markets or kids playing football in the streets.
When I feel a bit homesick, I videocall my family or friends and as soon we start speaking in our language, it instantly brings me back there. Another help comes from listening to our traditional music or going to eat any of our typical food, like pizza. I never really feel too far or disconnected from my roots because they are within myself. Being Napolitan is my way of being and it reflects in the way I act, my humor and my values for friendship and family.
Family is vital and that’s why since I moved to LA, I try to come back whenever I can. It helps me to reconnect after so much travelling because this place makes me feel real, it brings me back to a younger version of me, and it remind me of the important simple things in life, like playing cards with my grandma. Having dinner with my parents and speaking our language with everyone around the city, it makes me feel connected with something bigger than me and reminds me that it’s always going to be my place in the world, no matter how far I go.
look ISSEY MIYAKE
jewelry ANTICHITA PETRONE
boots SONORA
Dance is a demanding career, both physically and mentally. How do you maintain your performance at such a high level?
It is a really demanding career and I feel that I found my receipt by balancing between training a lot and disconnecting. For the most part, I work hard at training, every day trying to eat a healthy diet, go to the gym and then have classes. I have purposely moved to Los Angeles to practice and train with one of the best dance scenes around the world. It helps me be on track all the time, and train to catch up on choreography as quickly as possible at that high quality and complexity level.
On the other hand, when I was 18, I broke both my meniscus and had to stop for some months while waiting for surgery. By the time I came back, I felt such a boost of excitement to finally overcome all the pain and uncertainty that I felt like I was born again. From that moment, I learnt that sometimes the best you can do when you feel overwhelmed or stuck by being so hyper focused on your craft is to get out for a while and recharge with other things that fuel your creativity and inspiration in different ways, with simple things like a nice dinner with friends or a hike in the nature. I personally love exploring new museums, art exhibitions and, whenever I can, I go to the cinema.
I feel that this career has become an important part of my life, and it’s amazing because it’s my passion and it’s what I dreamed of, but sometimes you have to remember that it’s not everything. In order to keep performing at a high level, you also have to take care of yourself as a human being.
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pants and shirt DIOR
coat PRONOUNCE
sunglasses BALENCIAGA
right
tracksuit KID SUPER
shirt CASABLANCA
sneakers PDF
jewelry ANTICHITA PETRONE
full look CASABLANCA
shoes NIKE
glasses CARTIER
With so many notable performances under your belt, how do you approach each new project to keep your work fresh and exciting?
I guess I never look back and try to never settle on what I have done. I really love getting on stage to perform and getting that chance is never a given, so every time I take on a new project, I have that childish energy and enthusiasm because each time it will be a different adventure. You can have a different choreographer, a different team of friends and dancers to share it with, a new artist, a new genre of music and it can be for a music video, a live show or a tour. When I enter the room for the first day of rehearsals, I know that everything will be new and above all that, the scope of the project is always different, which makes me feel excited and curious to hear a new artist’s point of view and a new lens.
There is a lot of teamwork behind every performance, with the goal to share a message, an idea, a vision, and being aware of this makes you feel part of a bigger picture. This is really what keeps my energy fresh and eager to share it with the world.
How do you hope to inspire the next generation of dancers, particularly those from Italy or other underrepresented backgrounds in the global dance scene?
I have honestly never thought of myself as being in a position to be an example or an inspiration. I just did my best to always push myself into new fields and out of my comfort zone, to dream big without any restrictions. This is what I really hope for the next generation of dancers, whether Italian or from other underrepresented parts of the world, that you never put limits on your dreams. It may seem like a cliché, but everything is possible if you can dream it and are willing to work hard for it. Plan your goal and what you want to do and then, step by step, try to fulfil it, focusing on your path, knowing that it will not always be easy, and even when it seems difficult or not working, keep trying and discipline will reward you. Most importantly, never underestimate your value for the fact that your goal may seem too big. Only because it is not common for your country or community to do it or to be in that kind of space, does not mean that you cannot do it. Instead, do your best to stay true to yourself, and value and embrace what makes you different because that is what people will cherish and look for.
What are some future projects or collaborations you can share with us about? Are there any artists or brands you dream of working with?
To be honest, I’m not working on any project coming soon, but my focus is to keep working on myself, on my mind and body health, training every day a little bit more than the day before and taking some time to relax and to elaborate some ideas.
There are a lot of dream artists and brands that I would love to collaborate with, but as a good Napolitan, I’m really superstitious about telling my desires or dreams. The only one that I can tell you because I’ve already said it a million times and it’s been on my wish list forever is Chris Brown. I went to watch his show last year in LA for the first time and I was completely shocked. His stage presence and those choreographies are something else. Other than that, I try to stay positive, open and trustful to whatever the universe is bringing on my journey. Every opportunity and every person on my path matters for something. That’s what I have always believed and is the best way to keep going for me.
pants, shirt and jacket ETRO
boots SONORA
jewelry ANTICHITA PETRONE
sunglasses CASABLANCA
TEAM CREDITS:
talent ANTONIO SPINELLI
photography MICHELE PERNA
styling LUIGI D’ELIA
production TERESA SALVATRICE
videography MICHEL LIGUORI
hair CHIARA TIPALDI
styling assistant LAURA PRINCIPE, FRANCESCA VOLPE and VERONICA GALLO
photography assistant BRANDO GRAMAZIO
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA
