The cultural freedoms and creative expression of the late Renaissance and Baroque would not have been possible without humanism and its restoration of the classics. Its influence on the sciences was profound and Galileo Galilei himself called Archimedes “his master”. If Galileo drew a clear line between the classics and modern science, then Francesco Ventriglia can also be seen as expanding on the heritage of ballet to create a new choreographic vocabulary. His latest work, Galileo, is both a showcase for some of the most talented young dancers in the country and a thrilling scream for attention from one of the freshest choreographic voices to emerge in recent years.

Galileo

Hugo Poulet and Siobhan Lynch in Galileo, Sydney Choreographic Ensemble, 2022. Photo © Daniel Asher Smith

What makes Galileo all the more exciting is the fact that it is unashamedly grounded in the discipline and technique of classical ballet. It also avoids the trap of adopting the all-too-ubiquitous shorthand of today’s contemporary dance. Where so many choreographers fall victim to the seemingly overpowering influence of hip-hop, Ventriglia incorporates it like a fine chef adds a dash of spice. He also adds other...