Gabriel Ciulli

Gabriel was part of the DanceEast CAT programme between 2008-2016 and has since gone on to train at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and perform with companies such as Russell Maliphant Dance Company and
Alexander Whitley Dance Company.

What year did you start CAT?
2008
What year did you graduate from CAT?
2016

How did you discover the CAT scheme?
Local outreach workshops

What had been your experience of dance before the CAT scheme?
Local dance classes

Reflecting back now, what did the CAT scheme teach you?
Dance East CAT first introduced me to contemporary dance, gave me access to brilliant technique tutors and the opportunity to work with a wide range of choreographers and artists as well as perform around the UK and abroad. So much of what I learned and the connections I made at the CAT, all prior to pre-vocational training, have paid dividends in my professional journey.

Where did you go after CAT – what has been your career trajectory?
I went on to train at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance for 3 years, before continuing my training with Ballet Junior de Genève. After returning to the UK I began touring with companies such as Russell Maliphant Dance Company and
Alexander Whitley Dance Company and wokring as a freelance dance artist in the UK and internationally.

What are any of your future aspirations, where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I hope to continue working with choreographers I admire and welcome further opportunities to perform to new audiences around the world as well as develop my own artistic practice.

What advice would you give to a young person who is interested in CAT?
To take advantage of the range of experiences the scheme offers and anticipate opportunities to broaden your horizons and challenge yourself, as well as meet passionate likeminded artists both in training and in the professional world.

As a male in dance, what advice would you give to other aspiring young male dancers?
I would suggest try and find what motivates and inspires you about dance or movement in general and use that to help you develop your skills and physicality as a dancer. Remember that versatility is key so the sooner you can seek out new
experiences or new work that interests you the better.

We are celebrating 20 years of CAT – what difference do you think the scheme has made to the UK dance landscape?
The UK dance scene is now full of dancers who’ve been a part of CAT schemes up and down the country. The kind of access and performance experience they provide is a serious leg up in the industry and vital for dancers who want to
compete with others training around the world.