Giovanni Di Palma is born closed to Naples, Italy. He is five years old when he takes his first ballet class in a private school, and knows quickly that it is the first of a whole career. He joins the National Academy of Dance of Rome at the age of fourteen, and collects great records during his five years’ formation. Student of grate personalities like Mariella Ermini, Clarissa Mucci, Lynn Seymour, Denis Ganyo, Elisabetta Terabust, Fenney Troumann, Giovanni signs his first contract before ending his scholarship. First with the Balletto di Roma for a tour in Mexico, and right after with the Rome Opera for « Romeo and Juliet » from John Cranko.
But his real career begins in Nice, France, with the Ballet de l’Opéra de Nice, directed by J.A. Cartier. The Choreographies from Massine,van Manen, Ashton, Mac Millan, Cranko and many more give him the chance to show his qualities.
Two years Later, in 1997, Giovanni joins the Dresdner Ballett, Germany, directed by Vladimir Derevianko. His soloist’s talents are there used for the first time when Derevianko gives him the role of Colin in « La Fille mal gardée » from Lazzini. Many others follow then, in the classical repertoire as well as in the neoclassical and modern ballets (J. Neumeier, G. Tetley, M. Bigonzetti, X. Pen Wang, K. Pastor,U. Scholz…).
In august 2000, Giovanni Di Palma joins the Leipziger Ballett. The director and choreograph Uwe Scholz chose him to become the new soloist of his company, and gives him immediately some roles asking strong technique and personality. The Mozart’s piano concerto « Jeune homme » (choreography Uwe Scholz) is his first and remarkable apparition on Leipzig Opera’s stage, followed by “The Sleeping Beauty” (Scholz/ Tchaikovsky) as the Prince Desire. After his great successes, Scholz promotes him First Soloist, and makes him one of his favorite interpret of his ballets and of the classical repertoire, for the pleasure of the public and the press: Zarevitch in “Swan Lake” (Scholz/ Tchaikovsky), Mercutio in “Romeo and Juliet” (Vamos/ Prokofiev), James in “ La Sylphide” (Schaufuss/ Lovenskjold), “ Symphony in C” (Bizet) and “The 4 Temperaments” (Hindemith) from Balanchine, “ Sinfonietta” and “ Symphony in D” from Kylian,etc….
In 2001, Giovanni is recognized as the “ ...new talent of the actual Dance” by the magazine « Ballettanz International » and receives the prestigious dance award « Leonide Massine » in Positano (Italy). Giovanni always shares his personal successes with his master Uwe Scholz who creates his last ballets for him, like the famous solo of “The Rite of spring” on the version for two pianos from Stravinsky.
Since september 2005 the new director of the Leipziger Ballett, Paul Chalmer, has given him the possibility of new experiences… Hortensio in “Taming of the Shrew” (J. Cranko), a new version of “Swan Lake” (Chalmer/ Tchaikovsky), “Pierrot Lunaire” (Tetley/Schoenberg), “Sonett” and “Suite Suite Suite” from Marco Goecke, “Nutcracker” (Chalmer/Tchaikovsky), “Suite of Dances” (Robbins-Bach) and more from Balanchine, Bigonzetti etc.
In 2006 Giovanni is recognized as “ Outstanding Dancer” by the magazine “Ballettanz International”
In november 2008 Giovanni is nominated and receives the prix for the 5th edition of “Les étoiles de BALLET2000”
Invited as guest star in many international galas he dances in prestigious theatres of Hong Kong, Miami, Marseille, Vicenza, Rome,Tokyo, etc…
“My dream was to fly” is the title of a biography written by Vera Ambra and Arcangelo Di Palma. It explanes the difficulties of a child (Giovanni) who goes against the culturals tradictions to realize his dream.
Since four years he is also a permanent guest teacher at the ArkiTanz Ballet Studio in Tokyo and since the season 2009/2009 he is dancing freelance for many different companies all over the world.
As an excellent former principal dancer of Uwe Scholz and experienced ballet master, Giovanni Di Palma aslo staged “Rachmaninov” by Uwe Scholz for the Paris Opera, “Jeunehomme Piano concerto” for Grand Canaria and “The creation of the world” by Joseph Haydn for Ballet Posnan and Ballet Brno.
www.giovannidipalma.it