Elena Aldi
Writer – Teacher – Dancer
I am a writer, teacher (dance and yoga) and dancer born in Mantova (Italy).
Ever since I was a child, I have been immensely passionate about dance and fascinated by the magic of the unseen world as well as the beauty and the power of Nature.
After years of dance studies in my hometown, I travelled through Italy and Europe (2004-2008) to pursue my passion for dance, living in Rome and Paris, among other cities. I trained with international dance masters in renowned dance studios, such as Studio Harmonic and Ménagerie de Verre.
In 2009, I graduated in Modern Literature from the University of Bologna (Italy) and began to write personal reflections to heal from painful life experiences, deepen awareness of myself and examine what it means to be human. From this time on, I have never stopped writing.
After working in Mantova as a dancer and teacher for the dance company Corpocorrente, I moved back to Rome in 2010 to continue training and working as a professional dancer for the contemporary dance theatre company Aleph.
At the end of 2011, I moved abroad to Amsterdam where I trained at the Henny Jurriens Studio. During my time there, I also taught at the Amsterdam Dance Centre, worked as a freelance dancer for Gretchen Garnett & Dancers, and posed as a life model for painters and art schools.
Two years later (September 2013) I moved to Essen (Germany) to work as a dancer and teacher for Tanzmoto Dance Company.
Towards the end of 2014 I then returned to Amsterdam to create and produce Crossing Paths, an event featuring contemporary dance performances and poetry readings with colleagues from across Europe. The project was supported by the Amsterdam Foundation for the Arts (Amsterdams Fonds Voor de Kunst). It was for Crossing Paths that I performed my contemporary dance solo Luce.
In order to continue deepening awareness of myself and my body I eventually returned to Italy to train as a yoga teacher at the Samadhi yoga studio in Florence (2015-2016).
Then in April 2016, I published my first nonfiction book in Italy titled L’anima viola (Purple soul) with Gilgamesh Edizioni. In this autobiographical journal I share the struggles, thoughts and emotions I confronted with while becoming a professional dancer.
In October 2017, I moved abroad again, this time to Edinburgh (Scotland), where I trained at Dance Base, collaborated with local artists, and performed my solo work Luce for the Dance Base Spring Showcase. I also taught at the social enterprise Edinburgh Community Yoga.
Since returning to Mantova (Italy) in 2018, I have been teaching ballet, contemporary dance and yoga at many local dance schools and holistic centres.
After completing training as a yoga and meditation teacher for kids according to the Balyayoga Method (2020), I’ve also been teaching in public schools and during summer courses.
As a teacher, I recently further expanded my repertoire by developing and delivering a yoga course for women affected by breast cancer at the Oncology Department of the main public hospital in Mantova.
In 2021, my second nonfiction book Gemme di luce (Gems of light) was released in Italy. The book aims at sharing awareness, hope and enthusiasm in coping with the daily struggles and contradictions of the contemporary society we live in. It is an invitation to observe ourselves closely to be empowered by our awareness and to live a joyful existence.
