A LITTLE HORN-TOOTING & NAME DROPPING

A few years ago, we created the Inhabitants Project for the United Nations' official coral reef monitoring program, ReefCheck Foundation. It was a series of artistic shows that blended live dance, music, and video projections. These shows created awareness of the plight of coral reefs worldwide, raised funds, and garnered more support for ReefCheck through art.

We got the support of actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Daryl Hannah, and James Whitmore Sr.; Hollywood TV/film producers Penelope Anne-Miller and Gale Anne Hurd; two-time Grammy winner Carol Connors; oceanographers Jean-Michel Cousteau and Dr. Sylvia Earl; Celine Dion Angelil Productions; and AEG Live!

WHO WE ARE

Paolo: I am a filmmaker, photographer, video-projection content designer, illustrator, graphic designer, and electronic music producer.

I worked as a creative lead for a project with Éloize Entertainment (a division of Cirque Éloize) for a show concept creation and pitch; I headed the department for the video and 3D projection mapping for the Naba Theatre at Naga World in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; I have produced, written, directed, and executed the mounting of multidisciplinary shows in Las Vegas, Pasadena, and Malibu, California; I have directed, shot, and cut art films and music videos for companies such as the National Ballet of Canada and Universal Music France; and I produced video projection and installation content for major productions such as Celine Dion-Angelil Productions and Le Capitole du Québec. 

I am also an illustrator and graphic designer with a background in art history and classical painting; a photographer with a focus on, travel, nature, artistic and conceptual work; and I had the fun opportunity to be the official photographer for Olympian Carl Lewis and actress Kelly Hu for the Honolulu Marathon.

As for music, I have composed for the Scottish Dance Theatre, Narodni Divaldo in Prague, the Nevada Ballet Theatre (for the centennial celebration of Las Vegas), Ballet Pacifica, and RubberbanDance Group.

Caroline: I am a creative director, rehearsal director, choreographer, movement coach, professional ballet dancer, and contemporary dancer.

Currently, I am the Artistic Director for Cirque du Soleil’s (CDS), JOYA, in the Vidanta Resort Riviera Maya in Mexico, where I conceptualize new acts and ensure that every artistic aspect of the show is at its highest level. I also worked with CDS to rework acts and train acrobats to further develop their stage presence through creative workshops at the International Head Quarters in Montreal. I also recently worked with Éloize Entertainment (a division of Cirque Éloize) as a creative lead on a show creation and pitch project.

Before the pandemic, I worked with Cirque du Soleil in the official position of assistant artistic/acting AD (artistic director) and as the back-up for the Peacock Goddess character in the show, Amaluna. I also performed as a dancer in Viva ELVIS and worked as an event creator, choreographer, and artistic coordinator for Cirque du Soleil’s special events division, 45 Degrees.

I have lived in Belgium, Las Vegas, Singapore, and Turkey, where I performed in Celine Dion's A New Day at the Colosseum of Caesar’s Palace, Resort World Sentosa's Light Seeker, and Land of Legends by Rixos.

I have worked closely with prominent creators, choreographers, and companies such as Franco Dragone, Robert LePage, Vincent Paterson, Mia Michaels, Napoleon, and Tabitha D'umo, The National Ballet of Canada, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Cirque Eloize, Opera de Montréal, and Opera Lyra.

I also worked closely with Technical Director Damien Long (who is now the Director of Creations for Franco Dragone) at the Naba Theatre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where I created choreographies and taught guided workshops for local and international artists.