Le Radici
“If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."
Isaac Newton in a letter to Robert Hooke, 1676
"We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours."
12th century theologian and author John of Salisbury, 1159
During my path of training, practice and research, I have met many extraordinary teachers and elders, either in person or through the legacy of their work. When possible I have always tried to learn in person from those who I felt were masters of their art.
My sources are many and diverse. Here I report a non-complete series of teachers, practitioners and practices that have had a relevant influence on my learning and my teaching, as well as in the unfolding of my practice. They are reported in the order of appearance in the story. When possible I have included links. To all of them goes my greatest gratitude, appreciation and respect.
The Nonviolent Movement, in the principles of Gandhi and my experiences with the Italian Community of Conscientious Objectors in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
The spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi, through the Comunità dei Frati Minori del Monte, Genova, Italy.
Theatre of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal, through my training with Roberto Mazzini and my work in the early years of Associazione Giolli.
Educazione alla Pace through the work of the Italian pedagogist Daniele Novara and my work with Centro Psicopedagogico per la Pace e la Gestione dei Conflitti, Piacenza, Italy.
The Pedagogy of the Oppressed of Paulo Freire and the principles of Participatory Education, through the teachings of Don Gino Piccio, at Cascina G, Ottiglio, Italy.
My meeting with Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, co-founder of the Dell’arte School of Physical Theatre, in Blue Lake California, and my later work with the teaching staff at Dell’Arte, in particular with Joan Schirle and Ronlin Foreman.
Jacques Lecoq and his Pedagogy of Movement Theatre and Theatre Creation, through my training and work at the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris.
My teachers at the Jacques Lecoq School, in particular Norman Taylor and Alain Gautré.
Commedia dell’Arte through my work with the company Pantakin da Venezia.
Mask-making through my collaboration with master mask makers Donato Sartori at the Centro Maschere e Strutture Gestuali, Stefano Perocco di Meduna, Bruce Mars and Matteo Destro.
Gestalt Therapy, through the work of Serge Ginger and my training at the Ecole Parisienne de Gestalt.
The writings of Wilhelm Reich and his students Alexander Lowen (Bionergetics) and John Pierrakos (CoreEnergetics).
The work of transpersonal counseling and martial arts with Bruno di Loreto Wurms.
The pedagogic work and research of Amy Russell, former head of the MFA in Physical Theatre at Naropa University and deputy director at LISPA and now founding pedagogic Director of EMBODIED POETICS.
Taoism, Breathwork, and Wutao, through my work with Pol Charoy and Imanou Risselard, Centre Generation Tao, Paris.
Process Work (Process Oriented Psychology) initiated by Arnold Mindell, through my trainings at the Process Work Institute in Portland, Oregon.
The writings of Carl Gustav Jung.
Deep Ecology and the writings of Arnae Naess.
GEN, Global Ecovillage Network, through the Ecovillage Training at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland.
The writings and the recorded lectures of the poet Robert Bly.
Permaculture, created by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, through my training with Chuck Burr, Jerome Osentowsky and Jeff Lawton.
The writings and recorded lectures of Joseph Campbell on Mythology.
The writings and recorded lectures of James Hillman, on Archetypal Psychology.