Alessia De Salis comes from a background in theatre and dance where play is central to her practice. She has danced for about twenty years and trained in theatre, clowning—which inspires a sense of pleasure and playfulness—Butoh—an approach to the infinitely small, to resonance and deep listening—and physical theatre and the Axis Syllabus, which informs her technique and vocabulary.
She is interested in creating play as a space for encounter and connection, a shortcut that blurs the boundaries between individuals and between our learning processes, in order to nurture knowledge, collective intelligence, and connection. Contact improvisation brings these influences together in a practice where expression, play, and physicality converge.
For several years, Alessia has worked with First Nations communities, exploring how play and games support ways of learning together. This research informs her pedagogical approach. A natural facilitator, she creates sensitive and accessible spaces for practice, conducive to exploration, listening, and the joy of moving together.