Italian Choreographer Marco Pelle to Debut at Carnegie Hall in United Nations Gala Performance
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A poignant dance piece exploring love and loss will open the United nations’ “Better Together” event on December 5,featuring Italian choreographer Marco Pelle in a historic performance at Carnegie Hall. Pelle will perform his acclaimed work, Safe from Sleep, accompanied by Chinese pianist byron Wei-Xin Zhou at the Stern Auditorium, marking the first time an Italian dancer has graced that stage.
Celebrating 80 Years of the UN General Assembly
The performance is a centerpiece of the celebrations surrounding the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The event is presented in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR),the Office of the President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA80),and the International academy for Artistic and Cultural Studies (IAA). The “Better Together” event aims to highlight the power of collaboration and shared human experience.
The Evolution of safe from Sleep
Safe from Sleep is a deeply personal work for Pelle, rooted in the narrative of a love story that concluded with the anticipation of marriage. The choreography initially gained recognition after being commissioned in 2023 by the Lake tahoe Dance Collective in California, where it was performed by Stephen Hanna, a former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and a seasoned Broadway performer.
In 2024, the piece underwent a transformation for the bicentennial celebrations of the Egyptian Museum of Turin, evolving into a dialog between two dancers exploring themes of Bliss, Loss, and Journey.This latest iteration, Safe from Sleep/Journey, represents a new chapter for the work, and a meaningful moment in Pelle’s career.
A Personal Journey to the World Stage
“Dancing ‘Safe From Sleep’ in one of the most vital theaters in the world,opening the annual United Nations gala for the 80th anniversary of the first General Assembly,is an immense honor,” Pelle explained. He described the work as a departure, not a return, after a period away from performing. “This work, born as a personal story and transformed into dance, today represents for me not a return but a departure.”
Pelle, also a resident choreographer with the New York Theater Ballet and a Bocconi Academic Fellow, reflected on his artistic evolution. He spoke of rediscovering his body and a renewed artistic vision, embarking on a new phase of his career at the age of fifty.His journey has spanned from Vicenza to the Academy of Monte Carlo,and included mentorship under the influence of merce Cunningham.
Why: Italian choreographer Marco Pelle will debut his dance piece, Safe from Sleep, at a United Nations gala performance.
Who: Marco pelle, an Italian choreographer, will perform alongside Chinese pianist Byron Wei-Xin Zhou. the event involves UNITAR, PGA80, IAA, and previously featured Stephen Hanna.
What: Pelle’s dance piece, Safe from Sleep/Journey, explores themes of love, loss, and personal transformation. It’s a centerpiece of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly celebrations.
How did it end?: The article concludes with Pelle reflecting on the performance as a new beginning in his artistic journey, emphasizing the deeply personal and