A Hail Mary over the roar of an engine before going on stage

The energy that comes from creating, experiencing or observing any form of art is often tangible, exciting, mystical and far from rational. And so, before taking the stage, Antonio Spinelli created his own ritual, a prayer, a Hail Mary, while the in-ear headphones were blasted with Saoko's "vrooom vroom" Remember Stranger Things? There's an upside-down world in the entertainment industry, except instead of a demogorgon, there's Antonio. We are talking about a dimension of people, instruments, characters that are - often - invisible or appear in a flash, but they exist, sweat, work and make the show resonate strongly and clearly, which then vibrates through our vocal cords, reverberates in our iPhones and gets our butts moving. Those of you who have been lucky enough to attend a Rosalía concert have surely noticed a blue head moving to the notes of Motomami. Among these ten dancers, who not only dance but also fit perfectly, is an Italian. His name is Antonio Spinelli, he was born in Naples and is only 24 years old. «I inherited my passion for dancing from my father, who used to get me on my feet as a child and teach me the rhythm to the soundtrack of Beautiful. I started learning at the age of 4, mainly Latin American dances, Rumba, Samba, Cha Cha. I participated in many regional and national couple competitions. Then other disciplines came along, like classical dance, contemporary dance, street jazz, and at the age of 14 I realised that hip-hop was my path, so I joined this mega crew called Unbox Crew, which I was a part of for 5 years.»

Look A BETTER MISTAKE, Necklace VITALY, Bracelet and earrings EMANUELE BICOCCHI

Sweater ONITSUKA TIGER, Pants 3DC RETROSPECTIVE, Necklace EMANUELE BICOCCHI, sunglasses OAKLEY X STUSSY

From the crew to the world tour of Rosalía, Antonio has come a long way, performing on various stages. Growing up in a country like Italy, which does not exactly shine for its acceptance of professions beyond doctor, lawyer or consultant, Antonio says, «It's not easy to imagine a family that can imagine such a path for their child,» and he continues, «It's really hard to imagine a family, especially in my area, Naples, that can not imagine their child becoming a footballer rather than a dancer. I think my parents have always been great supporters of my passion, more than the profession itself. They were always there at my performances, accompanied me to classes, everywhere. But in reality, my mother, a teacher, always thought that one day I would follow an academic path.» And so it was, at least in part. After graduating from high school, Antonio enrolled in business administration to have a safety net, a plan B, while he continued to pursue dancing. «I was lucky to have great teachers who guided me and encouraged me to make certain decisions and follow certain paths.»

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For those who find themselves facing all of this alone? «Many people think that there are only other ways, only recommendations to move forward, that sometimes there are TV programs to really break through. My advice is to open your own boundaries and, above all, start studying, both abroad and in Italy because, in my opinion, the more you study, the more space for energy and ideas you'll gain. Studying broadens your awareness and, above all, the quality of your movement. Not only that, in my opinion, it expands and evolves based on how much you study and how differently you study, so the more you can step out of your comfort zone, the more, I think, you'll be able to acquire new styles.»

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Connections are also important, not only in your own body but also with other bodies. «Without kidding ourselves, networking is an important part, but not because it's a part that makes people call you because you become their friend, no. The more people you meet, the more teachers you can meet and learn from, besides something, from their teaching, the more you will increase your value. Also, lots of auditions are the best way to get noticed, even if the auditions may not go well. But at least trying to do it, passing a selection once or twice, making it to the end and not getting the job is still something that makes you stand out.» How does it feel to be on Rosalía's tour? I can not even imagine. For my generation, Rosalía embodies the crazy friend we'd all like to have, but also the passion. «The call comes when you least expect it, when you are not even looking for it, not thinking about it. But all that happens when you have been looking for it for a long time,» and he continues, «I remember every call I have received, the one for Romeo and Juliet on the landline phone at home, the sudden email for the MTV EMA, the Instagram message from the choreographer telling me he wanted me in Ed Sheeran's video, to the video call from the choreographer of Rosalía's tour telling me I got the job. It's always so unexpected, I was always shocked until I set foot in the rehearsal room and realised it was all true.»

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For Antonio, dancing is not just work, but something necessary. «I am much calmer when I dance than when I have to stand still. What always surprises me when I dance is how I manage to start anew every time. Despite the many years I have studied, I do not feel like I have mastered any one technique or style. Everything is so vast and full of subcultures and sub-styles that the study you have to do is immense.» Awareness of our bodies may never end. «Every genre of music can lead to a different kind of movement, just think of dancehall and hip-hop, which were born to express a cultural movement and most importantly to unite people. This is also the dance that speaks a language that is not written but that we can all learn.»

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Rosalía's tour ended on 22 July with the last show in Paris. And now? «I am going back to Naples over the holidays to spend some time with my family, and then I'll return to the dance studio with my friends. In the near future I will continue working on a big project that is really close to my heart and that I am developing, a concept video. And finally, I would love to return to the United States because I find it very fascinating as an industry. I have toured there before, but I'd love to experience it again without these busy schedules.»

1st Look:
Look A BETTER MISTAKE, Necklace VITALY, Bracelet and earrings EMANUELE BICOCCHI.

2nd Look:
Sweater ONITSUKA TIGER, Pants 3DC RETROSPECTIVE, Necklace EMANUELE BICOCCHI, sunglasses OAKLEY X STUSSY.

3rd Look:
Full look MISSONI.

4th Look:
Shirt and bag DIESEL, pants MARCELLO PIPITONE, shoes ONITSUKA TIGER.

5th Look:
Full look FERRARI.

6th Look:
Full look DIESEL

7th Look:
Full look MAGLIANO.

Credits:

Photographer: Alessandra Coppola

Stylist: Luigi D'Elia

Interview: Anna Paola Parapini