JOYA RENAISSANCE

What is the story behind your stage name?

Joya reflects my very joyful personality. Renaissance is a reference to my Tuscan origins and the artistic richness of my region. It also evokes my own renaissance at Crazy Horse Paris after a career as a classical dancer.

What is your history with dance?

I come from a small town in Tuscany. One day, as I was passing a dance class, I stopped and stared in amazement at the dancers, then announced to my mother that this was what I wanted to do. That was how it all began. I started dancing at around the age of six, and at twelve I received a scholarship to study at the Balletto di Roma. My family had to make some very important decisions to allow me to pursue a professional career. My mother moved to Rome with me, while my brother and father remained in Tuscany. That decision made me grow up very quickly. I knew the sacrifices it involved for my family, and I convinced myself that I had no right to fail.

After graduating, I went on to complete a master’s degree at the Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts in Germany. There, I discovered new forms of dance and broadened my horizons. I loved classical dance, but being part of a “corps de ballet” did not suit my personality. When I was little, I used to say that I wanted to be a dancer “because I liked feeling important.” I have always wanted to be the center of attention, and in Mannheim I began to make that dream a reality.

After completing my master’s degree, I began building my career in Rome. I danced for several seasons with the Roma City Ballet Company, toured China with a musical, worked as a dancer and assistant choreographer on films, and then began taking singing classes and learning to dance in heels. One day, a teacher advised me to audition for Crazy Horse Paris. I followed his advice, and here I am today, a dancer at Crazy Horse Paris!

How did your audition at Crazy Horse Paris go?

At first, the audition felt strange because I did not feel nervous, but that was precisely what made me realize that this was probably where I belonged. I immediately fell in love with this place, which is infused with femininity, sensuality and strength, as well as technical excellence.

What kind of woman are you when you dance on the Crazy Horse Paris stage?

Dancing at Crazy Horse Paris allows me to embody different women and all women at once. Each act gives me the opportunity to express something new, while always championing an image of femininity that is strong, independent and authentic.

What message would you like to convey to the audience when you dance on the Crazy Horse Paris stage?

The dancers in the cast are all very different. We come from various countries and have a wide range of personalities. By dancing together as part of this company, we implicitly celebrate the diversity and beauty of all women.

What does Crazy Horse Paris represent for you?

Crazy Horse Paris represents a new life for me! A renaissance! It is my opportunity to do what I have always wanted to do. Here, I feel that I can shine!

What have you discovered about yourself since becoming a Crazy Horse Paris dancer?

I discovered that I was capable of being sensual. In everyday life, I had always accompanied my sensuality with self-deprecating humor, which showed that I did not truly believe in it. Here, I had to convince myself of my own power of seduction. For me, this involved learning to accept myself and developing greater self-confidence. It has been a very profound change.

Do you have a personal ritual before going on stage?

I send a message to my mother, and she absolutely has to reply to wish me good luck. Her message has to be special: it is like a secret magic formula between the two of us. My mother is always by my side. I am here thanks to her unwavering support, so it is very important for me to feel that she is close to me when I am about to go on stage.

How would you define femininity?

Throughout my life, I always tried to be a woman who was pretty, funny and interesting to other people. Their opinions mattered a great deal to me. Here at Crazy Horse Paris, I discovered that femininity cannot depend on the way others see us. It depends on what we feel deep within ourselves and on the value we place on ourselves. Nor does it disappear when we show that we are sad, angry or reserved. Femininity has no conditions attached to it. Feeling like a woman: that is femininity.

Can you tell us about the act But I’m a Good Girl, which you perform in the show The Dubai Edition?

But I’m a Good Girl is an iconic act. The dancer must deliver an extremely physically demanding performance while portraying the charismatic Good Girl with confidence and flair! It is a truly exciting challenge—I could not have dreamed of anything better!

I have also been entrusted with the act Attitude. This hypnotic solo is rooted in the foundations of classical dance, so I feel completely in my element.