THE ROOTS

“We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours.” 

12th century theologian and author John of Salisbury, 1159

   “If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”

Isaac Newton in a letter to Robert Hooke, 1676

During my path of training, practice and research, I have met many extraordinary teachers and elders, either in person or through the legacy of their work. When possible I have always tried to learn in person from those who I felt were masters of their art. 
My sources are many and diverse. In this page I report a non-complete series of teachers, practitioners and practices that have had a relevant influence on my learning and my teaching, as well as in the unfolding of my practice. The live encounters are reported in the order of appearance in the story. They are followed by the inspirations that came through written or recorded sources. When possible I have included direct links to the source.

Between what I have received from them, and what I have discovered myself there is a continuum. It is very difficult to state when one ends and when the other begins. And it is not the point. The Poetic Body is collective.

Some of these teachers taught me how to search. By offering me the fruits of their lifelong quest, they gifted me with time to go further. The value of this gift is beyond measure.

To all of them goes my greatest gratitude, appreciation and respect.

A particular form of joyful gratitude goes to all those who have been students during this story of discoveries. Their thirst, their visions and their dedication to transform their life is a constant source of inspiration and renewal to me, and a permanent testimony of the beauty of the pedagogic dance.

This page is a tribute to my lineage as well as a reference for those who are on the quest.
This is where I come from.
May you go where you need to go.

Drawing by Jacques Lecoq

The Nonviolent Movement, in the principles of Gandhi and my experiences with the Italian Community of Conscientious Objectors in the late 80’s and early 90’s. 

The spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi, through the Comunità dei Frati Minori del Monte, Genova, Italy. 

Theatre of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal, through my training with Roberto Mazzini and my work in the early years of Associazione Giolli. 

Educazione alla Pace through the work of the Italian pedagogist Daniele Novara and my work with Centro Psicopedagogico per la Pace e la Gestione dei Conflitti, Piacenza, Italy. 

The Pedagogy of the Oppressed of Paulo Freire and the principles of Participatory Education, through the teachings of Don Gino Piccio, at Cascina G, Ottiglio, Italy.  

The encounter with Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, co-founder of the Dell’arte School of Physical Theatre, in Blue Lake California, and my later work with the teaching staff at Dell’Arte, in particular with Joan Schirle and Ronlin Foreman.

Nin Scolari and the Theatre School Ulysses with the actors of the company Teatrocontinuo, Padova.

Jacques Lecoq and his Pedagogy of Movement Theater and of Theater Creation, through my training and work at the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris. 

My teachers at the Jacques Lecoq School, in Sandra Mladenovitch, Norman Taylor, Dorly Habitch, Cristophe Marchand, Alain Mollot and Alain Gautré.

The lineage of Jacques Lecoq, notably Jacques Copeau, Suzanne Bing, Jean Dasté and Marie Hélène Copeau-Dasté.

Commedia dell’Arte through my work with the company Pantakin da Venezia.

Mask-making through my collaboration with master mask makers Donato Sartori at the Centro Maschere e Strutture Gestuali, Stefano Perocco di Meduna and Bruce Marrs.

Gestalt Therapy, through the work of Serge Ginger and my training at the Ecole Parisienne de Gestalt. 

The writings of Wilhelm Reich and his students Alexander Lowen (Bionergetics) and John Pierrakos (CoreEnergetics). 

The work of transpersonal counseling and martial arts with Bruno di Loreto Wurms. 

Taoism, Breathwork, and Wutao, through my work with Pol Charoy and Imanou Risselard, Centre Generation Tao, Paris. 

Process Work (Process Oriented Psychology) initiated by Arnold Mindell, through my training at the Process Work Institute in Portland, Oregon. 

Mask-making and the Pedagogy of Mask through my collaboration with Matteo Destro at the Helikos School.

Fitzmaurice Voicework, and my research and collaboration with Elizabeth Baron on the Pedagogy of Voice in movement theatre at the Helikos School.

The research on Movement and Acrogioco (Acrobatic Play) with Sarah Liane Foster at the Helikos School.

The pedagogic work and research of Amy Russell, former head of the MFA in Physical Theatre at Naropa University and deputy director and co-founder of LISPA and now founding pedagogic Director of Embodied Poetics.

The writings of Carl Gustav Jung. 

Deep Ecology and the writings of Arnae Naess.  

GEN, Global Ecovillage Network, through the Ecovillage Training at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland. 

The writings and the recorded lectures of the poet Robert Bly. 

Permaculture, created by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, through my training with Chuck Burr, Jerome Osentowsky and Jeff Lawton. 

The writings and recorded lectures of Joseph Campbell on Mythology. 

The writings and recorded lectures of James Hillman, on Archetypal Psychology.  

Deep Roots, by Aaron Gustafson