Gia Cacalano
Gia T Cacalano is an artist in the Pittsburgh community who is invested in the creation of high quality, cutting edge, and thought provoking improvisational based multi-media performance through her solo work and her renowned international ensemble, Gia T. Presents. Ms. Cacalano serves as a mentor, dance educator, choreographer, improviser, and performer who has both a regional and global resume of celebrated work. Her career span of over 30 years touches many, and Bodiography Contemporary Ballet Company is honored to have her as a resident teaching artist.
Ms. Cacalano's early training began with her studies in Kirov ballet technique with Istvan and Ana Ament of the choreographic institute in Cluj, Romania. Under this direction, Ms. Cacalano later joined The Old Dominion University Ballet co. in Norfolk, Va. 1983-1986. She performed many ballets such as The Nutcracker, Copella, Toyshop, and Swan Lake, among other ballets. In 1986, Ms. Cacalano moved to New York City, after receiving an academic and dance scholarship to attend Marymount Manhattan College where she studied with principal dancers and company members from the Limon Institute, The Martha Graham Company, The New York City Ballet, and several other leading companies. During this time she was also invited to intern with The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance where she spent the last two years of her college career earning credits towards her degree. In 1990, she graduated with honors from Marymount Manhattan and continued her studies at The Graham School. There she was mentored by: Pearl Lang, Carol Freed, Susan Kikuchi, Christine Dakin, Denise Vale, and countless Graham Company members. She also spent an extensive amount of time creating and performing her own work at some of the most celebrated theaters in New York City.
In 1991, Ms. Cacalano joined The Mary Anthony Dance Theater Company, and in 1993 she was invited to perform at Lincoln Center with The New Dance Group Gala honoring the leading modern dance pioneers. In 1995, Ms. Cacalano went on to study with renowned Butoh artist and dancer, Maureen Flemming, at La Mama NYC, and later joined new age Butoh company, Poppo and the Gogo Boys. Prior to moving to Pittsburgh in 2002 to begin her independent study in improvisation, Ms. Cacalano supported Maria Caruso's early efforts in founding Bodiography via guest improvisational roles in her early creations. Ms. Cacalano now works closely with Vincent Cacialano, co- founder of Magpie music /dance improvisational ensemble based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Senior Lecturer and program leader at The Manchester Metropolitan University in Manchester England to invest in improvisational studies on a global scale.
Ms. Cacalano has received critical acclaim for her solo improvisation over the past twelve years and has earned numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to the dance community. Her extensive gifts to dance education institutions include courses at: Carnegie Mellon University, August Wilson Center, Dance Alloy, Staycee Pearl Dance Project, Wexford Dance Academy, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, Bodiography Center for Movement, Attack Theatre, and many others. Ms. Cacalano is currently an adjunct faculty member at The University of Pittsburgh and focuses her coaching expertise on her second ensemble, "frameworks," where she educates student dancers on improvisational studies, aesthetics, and movement selections for performance.
For more information visit - http://giatcacalano.wix.com/gia-t