Sofia Nappi is an acclaimed Italian choreographer and the artistic director of KOMOCO, a dance company founded in Florence in 2024.
Known for her emotionally charged and viscerally raw movement language, Nappi has choreographed for prestigious dance companies and theaters across Europe and beyond, earning recognition for work that is as intellectually resonant as it is physically powerful.
Trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York, Nappi’s artistic development has also been shaped by close collaboration with Hofesh Shechter Company and her exploration of Gaga, the movement language developed by Ohad Naharin. “Dance holds within it something of the ritual, of the mystical,” she says—a reflection of the spiritual and psychological undercurrents in her choreography.
When asked about her creative process, Nappi says: “It is not just about moving the body; it’s about embodying stories, emotions, and ideas through a highly visceral and authentic presence. The dancers are encouraged to access a raw, almost primal state of expression where movement and emotion are inseparable, resulting in performances that are compelling, unpredictable, and deeply human.”
The result, as one reviewer put it, is dance that is “not only visually striking but also emotionally and psychologically engaging,” offering each viewer a space for personal interpretation and connection.
Giulia Barone writes, “Recognized as one of the young promises of contemporary dance, Nappi has been able to combine her international training with a unique choreographic language, capable of expressing deep emotions and connecting the body with the collective unconscious.”
From the earliest stages of her career, Nappi’s artistic voice has drawn wide attention. Her debut creations won multiple honours, including the Partner Introdans Award at the Rotterdam International Duet Choreography Competition and various accolades at the 35th International Choreography Competition Hannover, including 1st Prize, the Critics’ Award, and a Production Award from the Tanja Liedtke Foundation and Marco Goecke. Her works have also been featured by institutions and festivals such as La Biennale di Venezia, RomaEuropa Festival, MASDANZA, The Colors International Dance Festival, Teatros del Canal, Danse Danse (Montreal), and Belgrade Dance Festival, among others.
As an independent choreographer, Nappi has developed works for some of the most respected companies in the field. In 2021, she re-staged Holelah for the National Theatre Mannheim, originally created for the Venice Biennale. In 2023, she premiered Tagadà at Staatsoper Hannover, Moving Cloud for Scottish Dance Theatre, and Kemet, an inclusive project commissioned by Introdans. In 2024, she choreographed stage movement for the opera Platée at Göteborg Opera and created Hara for Nederlands Dans Theater 2 as part of their Up & Coming Choreographers project. This year, 2025, brings commissions from Leipzig Ballet, Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and Ballet BC! She is also serving as a pre-jury member for the 39th International Choreography Competition Hannover. In 2026, she will restage Tagadà for Introdans and premiere a new full-length work.
Nappi’s influence extends beyond the stage into education and research. She teaches internationally at institutions such as Tisch (NYU), Micadanses (Paris), Henny Jurriëns Studio (Amsterdam), b12 and Share Intensive (Berlin), and EDCM (Montréal). Since 2022, she has led the biannual “KOMOCOLab Intensive” in Florence, drawing professional dancers from around the world.
Sofia Nappi’s choreography doesn’t simply fill space—it transforms it. With a growing international presence and a language that speaks to the depth of the human condition, she continues to push the boundaries of contemporary dance with power, vulnerability, and vision.
About the author
Alyssa Hernandez is a senior BFA Dance Major with a minor in Performing Arts Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. As part of a joint initiative between the UMich School of Theatre, Music and Dance and the University Musical Society called 21st Century Artist Interns, Alyssa completed an internship with Ballet BC in summer 2025 ahead of the company’s tour performances with University Musical Society in October 2025.
