César Sautès-Vescovali

Get to know César

Why did you become a professional dancer ?

“Once I entered the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique, where I spent most of my life studying, I had the privilege of witnessing numerous dance performances. One in particular remains vividly etched in my memory as it was a transcendent experience. I felt so much… emotion unlike anything I had known before, and feelings that beautifully overwhelmed me. I was utterly in awe of what these artists could do. After that show, I thought I needed to become a dancer for a living so I could experience that evening again and again. It felt profoundly thrilling.”

What is it about NDT that inspires your artistry ?

“I believe the versatility cultivated at NDT offers a unique opportunity to explore my artistic identity in depth, as though discovering countless facets of myself. Each new piece and creative process feels like shedding an old skin, and witnessing a new layer filled with past and present sensations emerge. I love being overwhelmed by the flow of surprises that comes with surrendering to learning about dance and myself all over again. On another note, the intense rhythm of performing that also constitutes NDT fosters a research my art on stage in a freeing and inspiring way.”

How do you think art impacts your personal life, and the way you view the world ?

“I believe that every art form deepens my connection to my own sensitivity. It heightens my awareness of what surrounds me, and it invites me to reflect deeper as a being part of a larger whole. Most importantly, I love how art makes me feel closer to people, and very much alive.”

What do you hope to bring to the audience as an artist ?

“During a recent tour, a man approached me after the performance and said : “watching you all dance tonight felt like being faced with a reflection of my deepest feelings”. I think that reflects the most valuable aspect of this art. I hope to make audiences feel an overwhelming amount of sensations, enough for them to feel alive and connected to themselves and others in a new way. Because that is what dance makes me feel, and I wish to be able to share that. All of what constitutes life in its spectrum of emotions, as well as intellectual, spiritual and physical experiences.”