KNOW NATION’s First Cinematic Dance Film

KNOW NATION proudly presents Stars, its first exclusive cinematic dance film—a bold reinvention of Alan Lucien Øyen’s acclaimed solo, originally created for Paris Opera Ballet’s legendary étoile and former Director Aurélie Dupont.

In 2022, Daniel Proietto became the first male dancer to perform Stars at the Kuopio Dance Festival in Finland. Later that year, with Øyen’s permission, Proietto reimagined the piece as a cabaret performance for his drag persona, DRAMA, transforming it into a powerful exploration of identity, self-expression, and transformation.

The work continued its evolution on some of the world’s most exclusive stages, including Aurélie Dupont’s Les Nuits de la Danse at the recently opened Hôtel du Couvent in Nice.

A Story Told Through Movement, Voice, and Presence

Few performances in history capture the essence of storytelling like Nina Simone’s legendary live recording of Stars at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Before even striking a note, Simone commanded stillness, urging the audience to surrender to the story. Her voice—fragile yet powerful, flawed yet deeply expressive—transformed Stars into something more than a song: a fleeting moment of truth shared between artist and audience.

Originally written by Janis Ian in 1971, Stars speaks to the fragility of fame, the solitude of the performer, and the paradox of being seen yet never truly known. Simone made the song her own, subtly altering lyrics and shaping phrases with her unmistakable presence. At its core, Stars is a testament to the connection between artist and audience—an act of double vulnerability where both open themselves to be moved, to be changed.

From Stage to Screen: A Bold Reinvention

This raw, intimate communion is the heartbeat of Stars. And it is this depth of emotion that Daniel Proietto channels in his cinematic adaptation.

Filmed at Chela, one of Buenos Aires’ most iconic multimedia venues, this 8-minute choreographic film merges contemporary dance, drag artistry, and visual storytelling in a way that is both electrifying and deeply personal.

Through Proietto’s transformation into DRAMA, Stars takes on a new dimension—blurring the lines between reality and performance, gender and identity, self and spectacle. The result is a cinematic work that is as visually striking as it is emotionally raw.

As KNOW NATION’s first dance film, Stars marks the beginning of a new chapter—where dance, film, and creative innovation converge to redefine how movement is experienced in the digital space.

CREATIVE TEAM

• Cabaret version co-choreographed & performed by Daniel Proietto
• Based on the original choreography by Alan Lucien Øyen
• Music: Nina Simone
• Light Design, Photography and Camera: Dario Koran, Edgar Espinoza
• Motion Graphics: Ramiro Iturrioz
• Assistant: Manuel Ojeda
• Make-up Artist and Hair Stylist  Caio
• Costume Design: House of Drama
• Producer: Mauro Proietto
• Photos: Paula Brunelli
• Filmed at CHELA