Ask Emanuele Spampinato where his most creative ideas come from, and you might expect him to name a studio, a stage, or a specific routine.
Instead, he says: the kitchen. A museum. A concert.
For Emanuele, dance is inseparable from life — not just in the way it’s performed, but in how it’s felt, observed, and shared. His philosophy is grounded in joy, guided by emotion, and made personal through the small rituals and big revelations that shape a dancer’s path.
In this interview, he shares five truths about creativity, presence, and the kind of movement that lingers long after the music fades.
Emanuele Spampinato.
Is there a belief or philosophy that guides how you train or perform?
Yes. I believe that dance should always come by joy and happiness. As a teacher, I encourage my students to focus on intention over perfection and feeling the moment of what they are doing. Technique is important, of course, but it’s the feeling afterwards the dance experience that push you forward. Dance a samba and be a samba , there’s the difference.
How do you stay creatively fresh when competitions demand consistency?
It’s easy to get caught in the cycle of clean routines and polished tricks, but creativity is the lifeblood of dance. I make time to experiment outside the classroom — whether it’s improvisation, trying a new style, or just dancing for myself. I honestly admit the best routine or idea comes to me always outside the dance floor.; sometimes during a visit to a museum or I’m in concert or watching a movie. Sometimes even during cooking. Dance is art, probably this is the reason.
⸻
Do you have any quirky pre-comp rituals that no one knows about?
Absolutely! Before every competition or performance, I usually use a perfume, I like the idea during you moving on the floor you can catch attention even with your dancer scent.
⸻
Has dance changed how you walk through life? literally or metaphorically?
Without a doubt. Dance has taught me discipline, resilience, and empathy. It’s changed how I see people — how I listen, how I move through challenges, how I connect.
With no doubts, I catch myself marking cha cha lock steps while walking through the grocery store. Metaphorically, it’s made me more open, expressive, self-confident and grounded.
Looking back, what was one moment that changed everything, even if you didn’t realize it at the time?
I remember during a contract for the World Tour in Costa Cruise Ship, I receive a booking lesson from a lady in the wheelchair. I was a bit confused about it, but when she arrived at the lounge for having the class with me, she just stands up and ask to let her enjoy sometimes with a tango. I was speechless. She had a partial issue with her legs; therefore, she usually went by wheelchair. She could finish the whole session, but with tears in her eyes, saying, “I felt something today.” That was the moment I realized my role wasn’t just to teach steps — it was to guide people toward discovering themselves through movement and let them feel alive, able to do.
It shifted everything for me.