[FAQ, NOSTRUM QUESTIONS]

Curiosity is the beginning of understanding, questioning is its power! This is a series of most asked questions regarding our group. If these answers still do not satisfy your curiosity, don't be shy. submit your quest.

Q: What's up with Mare Nostrum? Mare Nostrum was the nickname of the Mediterranean Sea during the Roman Empire. Literally translated "Our Sea", symbolized the power of the Romans that, at their maximum expansion, controlled all populations and regions surrounding the water. To us, Mare Nostrum represents the many aspects of the Mediterranean Soul. It is a constant unifying action that brings all Elements together, regardless of artistic differences and cultural backgrounds.

Q: Why Elements? We don't consider our group as a company or an ensemble. We strongly rely on individuality and diversity. We collaborate on different levels for each specific project.

Q: Why MNE does not hold auditions?MNE strength relies on the experimental creative process and creating a new work is about finding a new Equilibrium between all the people involved. We believe it is very important for newcomers to familiarize and feel comfortable within the group. An audition conceived as a selection, will give the participants only one more chance to feel judged, under pressure, worried about being too fat, too short, too whatever; without giving them the possibility to really express who they are. Our movement theater workshop/rehearsals are the best way to know each other, nurturing the mutual interest (or not) of a possible collaboration.

Q: Why MNE doesn't perform very often? MNE productions are full- evening performances, hardly presentable as excerpts for showcases and festivals. Every project follows a completely new path, the Elements need time to research the material, develop a structure and mature an emotional journey. Usually this requires a long time of experimentation and changes.

Q: Why so many leaders? (teachers) Different approach to stage presence, offering a greater development of Point of view

Q: So, is this a training for dancers, actors...? Both dancers and actors have attended our workshops, as well as choreographers, theater directors, mimes, singers, costume designers, comedians and moms.

Q: Where does this training come from? Comparing Kevin's theater training @ the Boston Conservatory and Nicola's experience as a contemporary dancer, we realized we were lacking something. Hungry for artistic fulfillment, we started to explore other expressions (Mime, Physical Theater and Contact Improvisation) that helped us to develop a comprehensive art form and training.

Q: What it means "Backward process"?In a traditional choreographic process, character study and emotional involvement of the performers it occurs (maybe) only at very the end. Our approach to building a new project it woks the other way around. We start by considering the original idea and the emotional impulses that make us create some movement. This experimental process allows us to develop physical characters, exploring positions in space and interactions with each others. By the end of this we will have the final choreography.

Traditional process: Choreography > Positions > Interactions > Character study > Emotional connection.

MNE Process: Emotional activation > Character study > Interactions > Positions > Choreography.

Q: Where does the movement come from? Movement is a reaction to an emotional status, one's body necessity to communicate, but mostly, the physical aspect of a personal Point Of View.

Q: What is "the beauty of the unknown"? Performing should be exiting, with an element of danger from beginning to end, and afterwards, we all know that on stage, anything can happen. MNE prepares performers for this unknown: our projects allow a good amount of structured improvisation according to each performance' unique energy. We make the effort to stay open and everything falls into places.