The Metamorphosis Method arose from the experience of its two architects, Iratxe Ansa and Igor Bacovich. Together they have shaped and honed a work methodology brought about as a result of their particular needs and fuelled by their inquisitiveness. The chance to work and be in contact with dancers from many distinct cultures and nationalities has served them well to test and verify the effective scope of their personalized method. They have spent countless hours developing this methodology in the studio.
The methodology actually resulted as a need to devise their work tools. It emphasises physicality because the fundamental preoccupation of both creators is the physical potential of the dancers. This is why their dancers are required to be versatile and technically well-trained. However, to them physicality also comes to mean a philosophy, which requires total physical, intellectual, and even emotional immersion.
In their methodology they consciously work with all the movable parts of the body. They strive to make these physical abilities transform into a vehicle expressing emotions and ideas, and even become a concise and effective means of communication with the spectator.
They search for the emotional authenticity in the inner depth of the dancer. Through imaginary stories, visualisations of colours, or conscious sensory exploration, they evoke the performers’ genuine feelings.
Finally, the mental and corporeal agility that the method aims to bring to the surface also gives the performer the freedom to express sensitivity, make assertive decisions, and even calculate risks.
The benefits of this innovative method did not take long to be noticed by dance groups, companies, teaching institutions, and choreographic centres around the world. Many have wanted to summon the Ansa/Bacovich team to teach this methodology to their dancers. In this manner, the Metamorphosis International Residency was established. Its fledgling dance project consists of an intensive workshop and the staging of a choreographic creation.
Beijing (2014), Mexico City (2015), San Sebastian (2016), Shanghai (2017) and Lisbon (2018) are but some of the cities that have successfully organised these residencies.
In turn, these enriching experiences and the proven efficiency of their method have spurred Ansa and Bacovich on to create their own company, and create choreographies wholly resting on these principles.
TEACHING HISTORY
2023
Carta Blanca, Basel (Switzerland)
Festival Abril en Danza, Alicante (Spain)
Metamorphosis Method Workshop, Alcorcón (Spain)
Ballettschule Theater Basel, Basel (Switzerland)
2022
Danza Xixón, Gijón (Spain)
Dance Meeting Sevilla, Sevilla (Spain)
Milano City Ballet, Milan (Italy)
Metamorphosis Method workshop, Alcorcón (Spain)
Venezia Balletto, Venice (Italy)
Padova Danza, Padova (Italy)
Auditorium Ballet, Verona (Italy)
Conservatorio Profesional de Burgos (Spain)
2021
PAR, Factoria Cultural de Terrassa (Spain)
Royal Swedish ballet school (Sweden)
Metamorphosis Method workshop, Alcorcón (Spain)
Axis, Udine (Italy)
Biennale di Venezia, Venezia, (Italy)
Dance Meeting Sevilla, Sevilla (Spain)
Centro de Danza de Zaragoza, Zaragoza (Spain)
Milano Contemporary Ballet, Milan (Italy)
The Pace, Madrid (Spain)
Institut del Teatre, Barcelona (Spain)
Institute of the Arts Barcelona, Sitges (Spain)
Barcelona Ballet Project, Viladecans (Spain)
2020
Danza 180, Madrid (Spain)
Ryerson University, Toronto (Canada)
Centro Coreografico Canal, Madrid (Spain)
Carmen Amaya conservatorium, Madrid (Spain)
Centro Andaluz de Danza, Sevilla (Spain)
Royal Swedish Ballet School, Stockholm (Sweeden)
Arabesque, Ourem (Portugal)
Auditorium Ballet, Verona (Italy)
ZO3Y, Guangzhou (China)
Enigma Dance Arts Creatives, Kunming (China)
Good Dance Center, Nanning (China)
2019
Centro Coreografico Maria Pages, Fuenlabrada (Spain)
CDW, Vicenza (Italy)
Arabesque, Ourem (Portugal)
Tanzwerk 101, Zurich (Switzerland)
Keimyung University, Daegu (South Korea)
Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Jerusalem (Israel)
Pallco, Porto (Portugal)
Ryerson University, Toronto (Canada)
Totem Dance, Kiev (Ukraine)
Factory Ballet, Madrid (Spain)
Equilibrio Dinamico Ensemble, Bari (Italy)
Dantzagunea, San Sebastian (Spain)
2018
Tanzwerk 101, Zurich (Switzerland)
Centro Cultural España, Universidad del Pacifico, Lima (Peru)
Danza Concierto, Medellin (Colombia)
Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá (Colombia)
Acosta Danza, La Habana (Cuba)
Danza contemporanea de Cuba, La Habana (Cuba)
Centro de Formación de la Cooperación Española, Cartagena (Colombia)
Luzerner Theater, Luzern (Switzerland)
Tanzhaus, Zurich, (Switzerland)
Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Mariemma, Madrid (Spain)
EDAC Espace Des Arts Chorégraphiques, Lyon (France)
Metamorphosis International Residency, Lisbon (Portugal)
Intensive Contemporary Dance Course, Gijon (Spain)
International Contemporary Dance Workshop, Prague (Czech Republic)
Ateneo della danza, Siena (Italy)
George Brown College, Toronto (Canada)
City Ballet, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Wellesleys Studio, Auckland (New Zealand)
New Zealand School of Dance, Wellington (New Zealand)
PPY - Sydney Dance, Sydney (Australia)
Factory Ballet, Madrid (Spain)
2017
Factory Ballet, Madrid (Spain)
Boris Eifman Academy, Saint-Petersburg (Russia)
Cannon Dance, Saint-Petersburg (Russia)
Compañía Nacional de Danza, Madrid (Spain)
Centre 151, London (UK)
Valencia Danza, VIII Campus Internacional, Valencia (Spain)
METAMORPHOSIS INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCY, Shanghai (China)
Shanghai Dance Theatre, Shanghai (China)
Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Chengdu, (China)
Dance Teq Centre, Toronto, (Canada)
Chez Bushwick, New York (NY)
C
Ateneo della Danza, Siena (Italy)
Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua (China)
Zhejiang Academy of Music, Hangzhou (China)
Shanghai Dance Theatre, Shanghai (China)
Normal University, Shanghai (China)
House of Dancing Water, Macao (China)
Northwest University for Nationalities, Lanzhou (China)
Beijing Normal University, Beijing (China)
SEAD, Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance, Salzburg (Austria)
2016
National Taiwan University of sports Dance Department, Taichung (Taiwan)
Zhong Zheng High School, Taipei (Taiwan)
Chinese Culture University Dance Department, Taipei (Taiwan)
National Taiwan University of Arts, Taipei (Taiwan)
University of Taipei Dance Department, Taipei (Taiwan)
Tainan University of technology Dance Department, Tainan (Taiwan)
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong (China)
SOTA, School of The Arts, Singapore (Singapore)
Metamorphosis Summer Course Residency, San Sebastian (Spain)
Centro de produccíon de danza contemporanea, Mexico City (Mexico)
En Movimiento joven talento mexicano, Mexico City (Mexico)
laCantera, Mexico City (Mexico)
Saitama City Ballet, Saitama (Japan)
Hatsunekan Studio, Kyoto (Japan)
Dance Studio “CORAZON", Fukuoka (Japan)
Chung-Ang University (South Korea)
Equilibrio Dinamico, Bari (Italy)
2015
Dantzagunea, Errenteria, San Sebastian (Spain)
D´Motion, Internartional Dance Festival, DPAC, Damansara (Malaysia)
M1 Contact Contemporary Dance Festival (Singapore)
Beijing Normal University, Beijing (China)
SOTA, School of The Arts, Singapore (Singapore)
Dantzerti, Bilbao (Spain)
DAF Dance Art Faculty, Rome (Italy)
La Cantera, Mexico DF (Mexico)
Metamorphosis summer course residency, Mexico df (Mexico)
+Danza, San Salvador (El Salvador)
Beijing Dance festival, Beijing (China)
Studio ARCHITANZ, Tokyo (Japan)
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong (China)
New Zealand school of Dance, Wellington (New Zealand)
Atamira Dance company, Auckland (New Zealand)
PPY Sydney Dance Company (Australia)
Austinmer Dance theatre (Australia)
La Cantera, Mexico DF (Mexico)
Centro Cultural de España en Mexico, (Mexico)
2014
DantzaBiz Bizkaiko Dantza Etxea Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao (Spain)
DAF Dance Art Faculty, Rome (Italy)
UNAM, Mexico DF (Mexico)
IB Stage, Barcelona (Spain)
Balance Art Center, Beijing, Metamorphosis summer course Residency (China)
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Toronto (Canada)
Peridance (New York)
Dantzagunea, San Sebastian (Spain)
PPY Sydney Dance Company (Australia)
Austinmer Dance theatre (Australia)
2013
Alono King's Lines Ballet training program, San Francisco (California)
Summer course at Menagerie du Verre, kazuko Hirabashi, Paris (France)
Dance world Cup Spain, Jury + Workshops, Barcelona (Spain )
Northern California Dance conservatory (California)
ODC, San Francisco (California)
Arts Umbrella Dance, Vancouver (Canada)
Balance Art Center, Beijing (China)
IB Stage, Barcelona (Spain)
2012
Centre de Dansa de Catalunya, Barcelona (Spain)
Dantzaz and Nudans, San Sebastian (Spain)
Jove Ballet de Catalunya, Barcelona (Spain)
2011
CobosMika Training program (Spain)