Dario Natarelli has been expressing himself via motion for years, however his newest creations aren’t one thing you may watch—they’re one thing you may put on. The 26-year-old Colorado native just lately launched Knitarelli, a model of knitting patterns and yarns that invitations dancers and nondancers alike into the inventive course of of constructing scarves, sweaters, legwarmers, and different fashionable attire. Dance Journal spoke with Natarelli, who will carry out within the upcoming Encores! manufacturing of Great City at New York Metropolis Heart, to be taught extra about his new position as a enterprise proprietor, and the way he sees the connection between choreographing and crafting.
How did you get all for knitting?
I began after I was about 6. I used to be in dance class on the time, and there have been quite a lot of dance dad and mom knitting and crocheting on the benches outdoors the studio. I used to be a really curious little one, and I wished to be taught all the things each inside and outdoors the studio—what and the way folks have been making what they have been making. So, my mother introduced me needles and yarn, and I began to be taught the fundamentals. Once I moved to New York Metropolis after I was about 9 years previous, I wished to proceed. I used coloured pencils as knitting needles, and I discovered a sweater in my dad and mom’ closet that I unraveled to make use of as yarn. A pair years later, in 2011, I ended up promoting a hat on Etsy.
Is that once you knew you wished to do it professionally?
I’d do it on and off as a passion, like earlier than dance class or on the subway. At auditions, I’d all the time have one thing to do to ease my thoughts, and I discovered knitting to be very meditative. Quick-forward to the pandemic: I used to be alone in my actually tiny residence in NYC, craving a inventive outlet, so I acquired again into knitting. I realized about knitting methods and began to hand-dye yarns. I constructed a following on TikTok, over 25,000 followers, sharing the inventive processes of fiber arts. These movies have been my manner of acting at a time after I wasn’t capable of be onstage.
Is knitting an identical expertise so that you can dancing?
Knitting is like my cooldown, mentally and spiritually, from my dance observe. It offers me a inventive outlet that’s extra accessible—I can do it anyplace, with out having to all the time be bodily energetic. Once I began designing my very own patterns, I discovered quite a lot of similarities to my choreographic course of. The precise observe of knitting and designing includes quite a lot of repetition, discovering the way in which that sure stitches work effectively with one another and others don’t. It’s like faucet: Some rhythms work effectively with particular genres of music, some a cappella, and a few under no circumstances.
I’m additionally very interested in the method of seeing how my choreography works on one other physique versus my physique, like how my designs match on anyone else versus how they match on me. I get quite a lot of my inspiration from seeing folks in dance courses: what they discover to be important for warming up, how they layer issues, what they really feel assured carrying. I delight myself on creating size-inclusive patterns that make folks really feel their finest.
Why did you select to launch Knitarelli this 12 months?
Engaged on my first Broadway present, Illinoise, final 12 months allowed me to avoid wasting up sufficient to have the ability to launch a enterprise. It doesn’t really feel nerve-racking regardless that I’m carrying a number of hats. Knitting gives readability in my thoughts and my physique. I can’t wait to hopefully collaborate with dancers to be fashions. My dream is to produce other folks mannequin the issues I make, the way in which I’ve different folks do my choreography.
What different objectives do you might have for Knitarelli?
I’ve goals of designing Knitarelli objects for performances, which I’m going to start out this summer time. I’m actually excited to put on Knitarelli onstage after I carry out and see each of my worlds turn out to be intertwined.
