The grace of Martina Arduino

A very young principal

After Nicoletta Manni and Virna Toppi, we also met Martina Arduino, a prima ballerina at La Scala Theater and an alumna of the Academy's Ballet School.For the Hall of Fame, Martina told her story, beginning when she was only 3 years old.

“I started practicing ballet a bit by accident. One day my mom took my older sister to a ballet school; I was only 3 years old, but I liked that place so much that I insisted that I too could take a trial class.

The principal of the school, once the lesson was over, told my mom that I was really very talented and although I was very small I could still keep up with the pace of the older children. From that very moment I never stopped dancing.

I remember that I really liked the idea of following a strict lifestyle of rules. I was always very precise and attentive to details. For example, I always came early to class and even if I had a fever I didn't want to miss it.”

A dream called La Scala.

When I was 9 years old, a classmate of mine, a few years older than me, told me that she was going to participate in the auditions for the Ballet School of the La Scala Theater Academy.

I was very intrigued, and so my teacher suggested that I work harder so that I would be prepared to present the following year. I had no idea what the difference was between just any school and the Academy, I was very scared especially of having to leave my city, my family, and getting away from my certainties. Also, I had never thought that I could make this passion of mine a profession. 

I began the preparation and slowly realized that that could really be my path. 

The big day of the competition, for me, came in 2006; I showed up accompanied by my mom and dad, who have always been the biggest supporters.

The Academy audition and the first meeting with Ms. Karpenko.

Since my last name begins with A, I was one of the first girls to take the test: I put on my white leotard, pantyhose, and half-tights, then entered the room where the committee was waiting for me. The room seemed enormous...endless! I, used to a small dance studio in Turin, was completely bewildered.

We were greeted by a teacher I had never seen before, who had us line up and asked each of us to perform some exercises. She was Ms. Vera Karpenko, who would follow me through almost the entire academic journey, becoming one of the most important figures in my professional training and preparation.

When the audition was over, we were made to sit outside the classroom, the doors closed and we stood waiting for the posting of the longed-for paper that would announce the outcome.  As soon as the doors reopened, we rushed to look for the result: I immediately saw my last name, I was first on the list. I started crying my eyes out and ran to my mom and dad to tell them the good news.

It was raining that day and the sky was gray in Milan, but I remember it as one of the best moments of my life.

New life.

The first year was not the easiest. I had to get used to new schedules, new teachers, new rules and methods, but above all a new city, far from my loved ones. In this sense, it was crucial to identify in my teacher not only an educator, but also a mentor to spur me on through it all. I gradually realized that this was the right path and that I really wanted to become a professional dancer.

The Academy used to give us three months off in the summertime. This allowed me to travel around Italy to take internships and masteclasses taught by new teachers and international dance companies. It was an opportunity for us dancers both to try new methods and to be seen as aspiring professionals. In the transition from the sixth to the seventh course, for example, I participated with a classmate in an internship held by the Junior Company of Amsterdaam at the city's theater. It was a two-week course that also included an in-depth study of contemporary dance, which was very interesting.

The competition in Scala within weeks of graduation.

I graduated with honors in 2015 and had already started working in the company from December 2014, as a reserve. A few weeks after my graduation examination, La Scala held a selection to hire new dancers: in June 2015, I officially joined its corps de ballet.

After a few months, the company director began to entrust me with my first solo roles. He had probably seen my qualities and wanted to give me the opportunity to grow. Performing on such an important stage was a source of great pride for me, but also of great excitement: I knew there were many expectations.

When I was only 21 years old, I was appointed Prima Ballerina of the Teatro alla Scala. My dream had truly come true!

Advice for those who want to pursue this career.

One must follow this path only if one truly believes in it and is willing to make many sacrifices. One must be ready to face difficult times with positivity and new strength, without getting down or throwing in the towel. It is in beautiful work, but it is not for everyone.

Also, I believe that the teacher is the most important figure, in a dancer's career.

We need a reference we can rely on to learn technique and discipline. It is the presence that I missed the most during the lockdown period and forced training at home.

Photo Brescia e Amisano©Teatro alla Scala