Starting with the 1985 edition of the Festival, the International Encounters of Rovereto have included a special section in the program: "Artists Recommended by Artists." Each year, a renowned choreographer is invited to recommend a young choreographer of their choice for the Festival. This year, Pina Bausch was consulted and selected Manuel Alum for Rovereto.
The solo that Alum has decided to present as a national premiere at the Festival, *Made in Japan*, fits perfectly with the East-West theme, as it offers a unique and personal "perspective" from a dancer with American training on Japanese theatrical culture. In essence, it is a tribute to Japan from a choreographer deeply influenced by Western modern dance. The use of Japanese music by Akio Suzuki provides an opportunity for reflection in line with this year’s Festival theme: *The Sound of Theater*.
This “recommendation” process will be repeated annually. For the next edition of the Festival, Merce Cunningham will be the choreographer invited to make a selection.
Manuel Alum was born in Puerto Rico and began his dance career at the age of 17. In New York, he studied with Martha Graham, Maggie Black, Mia Slavenska, and Paul Sansardo. It was in Sansardo’s company that Alum distinguished himself as a principal dancer, assistant choreographer, and the creator of several successful works.
In 1970, the *Manuel Alum Dance Company* gained prominence by performing at major dance venues such as the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, the American Dance Festival, and the Lincoln Center Festival. The company also toured some of the most prestigious universities in the United States, as well as Bermuda and Puerto Rico. In 1971, it was chosen to inaugurate the Lepercq Space at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
As a solo dancer, Alum toured extensively in the United States, the Far East, and Europe. In Italy, he performed at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto as Pina Bausch’s partner. As a choreographer, Alum received commissions from prestigious institutions such as Ballet Lambert (United Kingdom), the Bat-Dor Company (Israel), and the Dance Theatre of Harlem (USA), among others.
He has had countless teaching experiences, training many young dancers, and was recently a composition instructor at Brooklyn College in New York, where he resides.
In 1979, Alum was selected by the *Japan/U.S. Friendship Commission* from approximately 2,000 candidates to represent American dance in Japan. His Japanese tour was pivotal for the development of his work. With his solo performances, he explored non-traditional venues in Japan, such as temples in addition to theaters. While in Japan, Alum collaborated with Kinnosuke Hanayagi on the Kabuki production *An Actor’s Revenge*.
Upon returning to New York, Alum created what he calls a “kinetic diary”: *Made in Japan*.
