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HUMANOS

ELEINA D.

HUMANOS

concept and direction Vito Leone Cassano and Alberto Mocellin 
choreography Vito Leone Cassano 
performers Claudia Cavalli, Marco Curci, Erica Di Carlo, Francesco Ayrton Lacatena, Antonella Piazzolla, Roberto Vitelli, Samuel Puggioni 
shadow figures Matilde Corni, Gaia Stanghellini 
original music Claudio Fedele aka Jugodefatuo 
set design Officina Chiodo Fisso 
lighting design Angelo Tauro 
costumes Junkie 
production Compagnia Eleina D. 
supported by Teatri di Bari 
 

duration 60 minutes  

HUMANOS takes place in an aseptic laboratory, a space devoid of identity turned into an observation chamber. Like test subjects in a social aquarium, the performers are subjected to an ongoing experiment driven by invisible forces that constantly shape and redefine how bodies relate to one another. Transparent walls erect and dissolve shifting boundaries, creating an unstable environment in which every gesture becomes an act of adaptation and a potential point of contact. Instead of explicit rebellion, a progressive numbing sets in: each individual negotiates their own space, searching for a threshold of connection with the other. The work reflects on how the contemporary human condition is shaped by the dynamics of observation, control, and adaptation. At the core of this research is the body as a living archive, made up of cultural, emotional, and social layers that precede the individual and define their presence. Dance emerges at the very margin of encounter, in the single millimetre where skin meets skin, and where identity can turn into either a barrier or a possibility for connection. Eleina D.’s choreographic language seamlessly blends raw physicality with the expressive power of gesture. The set design, with its transparent walls and dividers, functions as an active onstage organism that observes, separates, and distorts. The aerial equipment expands the perception of space and the body, evoking a suspended state of humanity caught between adaptation and the desire to connect. 

Director’s notes: ‘This work is born out of a pressing need: to observe the mechanisms of the contemporary “social being” from the inside. Not to judge them, not to interpret them, simply to inhabit them through the body. HUMANOS is not a critique; it is an open question. A question that moves, falls, and rises again. Like us. Like you.’ Vito Leone Cassano

Vito Leone Cassano

As a choreographer, educator, and artistic director of the company, Vito Leone Cassano has spent over twenty years developing an artistic practice that blends contemporary dance, physical theatre, and aerial performance. Following his experience as a solo dancer with the Mvula Sungani Company, he established his own choreographic voice, creating productions presented at international festivals and venues, including Co-Esistenza, Anima Mundi, Phobos, and Humanos. Alongside his creative work, he develops site-specific projects such as Hell in the Cave, staged inside the Castellana Caves, and immersive works for international cultural institutions. He has collaborated with directors, cultural institutions, and global brands, including Ferrari, Dior, and X-Factor. Since 2021, he has directed the World Dance Movement – Italy and serves as a guest teacher at international institutions such as the Broadway Dance Center in New York, Peridance, and Move It London.

Eleina D.

Founded in 2011 by Vito Cassano and Claudia Cavalli, Eleina D. is a dance production organisation recognised by the Italian Ministry of Culture. The company develops a multidisciplinary language that weaves together contemporary dance, physical theatre, acrobatic techniques, and site-specific research, creating productions defined by strong visual impact and compositional rigour. Its artistic activity encompasses creation, international touring, education, and the development of cultural projects. The company’s productions have been presented across Europe, Asia, and the United States, including works such as Cappuccetto Rosso (Eolo Award 2019), Phobos, co-produced with the Ballet National de Marseille, and numerous site-specific pieces staged in archaeological sites, museums, and natural landscapes. Through residency programmes and international cooperation, Eleina D. fosters opportunities for research and cultural exchange with both national and international artists and partners.