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Martina Forioso
Available to sponsor
Biography
A graduate of the English National Ballet School, Martina joined Scottish Ballet in 2003. Since joining the Company, she has danced in Page’s Cheating, Lying, Stealing, The Nutcracker (Marie and Louise), Soft Underbelly, 32 Cryptograms, Room Of Cooks, Cinderella (Autumn), Fearful Symmetries and The Sleeping Beauty (Aurora, Snow White) and Pennies From Heaven, Petronio’s MiddleSexGorge and Ride the Beast, Davies’ White Man Sleeps, Balanchine's The Four Temperaments, Episodes, Apollo, Rubies and Agon, Forsythe’s Artifact Suite and Workwithinwork, Pastor’s In Light And Shadow and Romeo and Juliet (Juliet’s Friend), Ashton’s Façade and Scènes de Ballet, Brown’s For M.G.: The Movie, Loosmore’s Chasing Ghosts and Lull, Dean’s Träume, Alston’s Dangerous Liaisons (which she also performed as part of the Dance Umbrella Gala) and Carmen (Carmen), and Spink's Petrushka.
Martina was nominated for Outstanding Female Performance (Classical) at the Critics' Circle National Dance Awards 2009.
Five questions for Martina Forioso
Martina talks about dancing the part of Carmen, her first lead role for Scottish Ballet.
Why do you think the artistic team chose you to perform this part?
I’m feisty! My strong personality translates onto stage.
What is your interpretation of Carmen’s character?
Carmen can come across like an aggressive feisty woman, but she’s not a bad person. She’s a troublemaker with a big heart; she falls in and out of love. It’s not just about being hungry, there is so much more to it.
Have you seen any other productions of Carmen?
Yes, I saw the Royal Opera after I had been cast as Carmen and loved it! The woman playing Carmen was stunning. She had this beautiful voice and such a powerful look about her.
What was it like working with Richard Alston?
He captured the original story really well, and Carmen has definitely been my favourite role with Scottish Ballet. It was so nice working with Richard - we don’t want him to go!
Are there any other choreographers you would like to work with?
There are so many! Perhaps Forsythe - I really enjoy his work.
Quotes
AUTUMN 2009
Pastor’s In Light and Shadow
.Dance Europe, November 2009 – Ahmet with his partner Martina Forioso delight in their Gavotte.
SPRING 2009
Alston’s Carmen
.The Times, 21 April 2009, 4* – For his first cast, Alston bypassed the principal ranks in favour of less tested dancers, who reward his faith with outstanding performances. As the gypsy temptress, Martina Forioso wears her sexual power with quiet authority. Her dancing is underpinned by the palpable sorrow of knowing that her Carmen is fated to die
.The Herald, 17 April 2009, 4* – Forioso gives Carmen heart and humour
.The Herald, 17 April 2009, 4* – These three young artists [Forioso, Davidson and Smith] – none of them principals – shine like future stars melding thrillingly assured dancing with thoughtfully dramatic characterisation
.Metro, 17 April 2009, - The stars are from Scottish Ballet’s relatively junior ranks, which pays off in Martina Forioso’s compellingly feline, fluid Carmen
.Evening Times, 16 April 2009 – The flashing eyes of Martina Forioso as the seductive Spanish cigarette girl added heat to her character’s volatile love affair
.The Daily Telegraph, 17 April 2009 – Casting Turin-born coryphée Martina Forioso as Carmen was a brave move that’s paid off. Despite her petiteness, she stalks her various men like a lioness might a tiny deer, but brings emotional warmth to the role too.
.The Stage, 29 April 2009 – The key pairing of ballet are excellently cast, with Daniel Davidson a willowy and all-too-easily led Don José and Martina Forioso’s Carmen positively predatory in her sexuality.
ROMEO AND JULIET 2008
Pastor's Romeo And Juliet
.Sunday Express, 18th May 2008 - Somehow Martina Forioso as one of Juliet’s friends captured the company’s current powerful forward thrust.
SPRING 2006
Petronio’s MiddleSexGorge
. Ballet-dance.com – 20 April 2006 – And without a doubt it is well-suited to displaying the company’s collection of fine contemporary talents, especially Paul Liburd, Patricia Hines, Martina Forioso and Jarkko Lehmus.
CINDERELLA 2005-2006
Page’s Cinderella
.Evening News, 5 January 2006 – In particular Tomomi Sato’s delicate Spring and Martina Forioso’s spiky, aggressive Autumn are a true delight.
.The Observer, 8 January 2005 – I particularly loved Martina Forioso’s blustery Autumn Fairy.
.Ballet.co.uk, March 2006 – Page’s angular, aggressive style was particularly well suited to his Autumn (Martina Forioso) who attacked her stormy solo with energy and force.