Macha Daudel

I met Macha when she came to Stuttgart to set Cantata by Mauro Bigonzetti. She is very easy to work with. Everything was going smoothly until suddenly, like a scene from a dance movie, my partner got injured and Macha jumped in!

I have seen Macha perform with Aterballetto many times. She is special. A raw quality, with amazing physicality and beautiful lines. She is a star. When you meet her she is very humble and sweet. You would never know she can dance like that… I love that about her. Now suddenly, I am dancing with her… needless to say, I was nervous.

Once the initial shock set in, we went to work immediately. The first time I had to try something with her, she almost knocked me down to the floor. After seeing my shocked reaction, she was apologetic, but I said “don’t change anything…I like it!” Her power is incredible. Every second of dancing with her was intense. I had to step it up man! How does she have so much energy? I mean… she goes for it. A unique dancing experience… in a lot of ways very organic. I had a lot of fun.

Macha is from Avignon, France. She studied at the Conservatoire de Danse in Avignon. She has danced with the Avignon Ballet, Ballet National de Nancy, Ballet du Capitol and Aterballetto. Currently she is a mother and wife… and when she has extra time… she is assisting Mauro Bigonzetti and setting his ballets all over the world.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you always want to do what you’re doing now?

Well, not what I am doing know… I can say that because now it is a little bit over, but be a dancer yes. Even in the beginning I did not want to be a classical ballerina. I want to be something larger.

Macha’s Favorite Things

Favorite Things to eat?

There are so many… the thing is that… I love to eat. Italian food. Chocolate cake. After that good wine obviously…Truffles…I could love a very good Salami, you know… Good bread, for me that is the best. In general I love to eat.

Favorite Books?

One book that I love so much, it is an Italian book actually. Seta by Alessandro Barrico

Favorite Movies?

“In the Mood for Love”. Directed by Wong Kar-wai in 2000. My husband and I saw this movie in the south of Italy. We were in this really old cinema, that was really far away. I think we were four or five people in the public. The moment was special. It was more about the time the experience. More than the film.

Favorite Dance Piece or Show/Musical or both?

I don’t have one piece. I can name choreographers maybe? Kylian, All Balanchine. One that I love, One really classical ballet that I never had the chance to dance, is Raymonda. I love the ballet, I love the music, I love the costumes in general. Nureyev has done a very nice version.

I like dancers who…

…lose themselves completely in the dance. I love that. Most of all musicality. Who are a little bit freaky maybe?! Clean and precise, but with something completely special and a kind of freaky mind.

I am afraid of…

…to lose people that I love.

A dance piece should…

Make me lose the time, make me lose my mind, Make me lose everything just for that moment.

One of the happiest moments of your life?

The birth of my son. I think it is the same for all people who have children. I mean it is obviously the most beautiful day. Everyday that I can put him to sleep and I look at him in his bed… I can say wow, that is the most beautiful thing I have in my life.

Who has been the most influential person/people in your life? or Career? and why?

That is a complicated question. In my career I can say that I have two people. My teacher was a very important person for me. Ms. N.Petrachi, the director of the conservatory where I studied. She made understand that even if I have some nice possibility to dance, I still have to work a lot. In the beginning I forgot this. I didn’t get it. She made me understand that I have to push myself. Not always in a good way, she was really hard sometimes. That was good for me. If I didn’t have her, maybe I would not have arrived at the point I did as a dancer. After that of of course Mauro Bigonzetti. What was nice about Mauro is he doesn’t just look at me as a dancer he looks inside me. That was very special.

 One of your coolest experiences?

Standing behind Sylvie Guillem at the barre. She came to Aterballetto to do Steptext by William Forsythe. When I was little, I would watch her on the television. For me Slyvie Guillem was the top. For me to be in a class with her at Aterballetto, was crazy.

One of your most embarrassing moments?

Well I don’t have a most embarrassing moment, but I have a lot of funny stories. Like once I was on stage improving with another guy and then I got hit in my face. I walked away with two black and blue eyes. These kinds of things happened to me a lot because as you know, sometimes I can push a little too much. Once I was crossing the stage and I fell and hit the curtain taking the whole curtain down with me. I was running too fast. That’s me.

One of the hardest Things about your setting a ballet on a company?

For me its choosing the people so fast. I need to see more. She them walking speaking, being with other people. That’s the most difficult thing. After that… the rest is pretty good. I love to do it.

Three words to describe yourself….

Generous, humble, passionate

Do you have any goals that you still hope to achieve?

I love flowers. I would love to have my own flower boutique! I always look for information on starting the process, but I never go through with it.

Dear aspiring artists,

The one who loses himself in his passion, loses less, than the one who has lost their passion… Don’t think too much, don’t speak at all, lose yourself to dance.

–Macha Daudel

Photo Journal

Macha and her husband Thibaut in the studio with Mauro Bigonzetti. Photo by Raffaella Cavalieri.

 I told you she was tough…

Macha and her son Jules.

The beautiful family home! How cute!

 An example of her amazing physicality ! Photo ©2006 A.Anceschi

Thank you Macha for your inspiration! Have you seen Macha perform? Share your stories in the comments below!

This Interview is optimized for iPhone and mobile devices.