The Ailey School

Riccardo Passera is a native of Milano, Italy. Drawing on his heritage which spans from Italy to the Caribbean, he started dancing Caribbean dance at the age of 10 at Ratz Mataz school and later continued his ballet, modern and contemporary training at different studios in Italy, including The Ballet School, AreaDance Nuova and New Style Dance. During this time Riccardo performed works by Lino Villa, which toured Italy with New Style Project Dance Company. He also performed choreography by Mattia Cuda while he was an apprentice with MAADE Ensemble. At the age of 18, Riccardo moved to New York City to train at The Ailey School. During his time at Ailey, he performed Bird Lives by Alvin Ailey and an excerpt of Festa Barocca by Mauro Bigonzetti in Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s (AAADT) Opening Night Gala at New York City Center 2021 and 2022 seasons. He also had the opportunity to perform in Mr. Ailey’s Memoria during AAADT's New York City Center 2023 season. 

Between Italy and New York, Riccardo has had the pleasure of working with choreographers such as Clifton Brown, Amy Hall Garner, Ronald K. Brown, Darrell Moultrie, Brice Mousset, Janice Rosario, Johan King Silverhult, Attila Joey Csiki, and Rita Pivano. Riccardo has been a member of the Ailey Student Performance Group (ASPG) since the spring of 2022, performing Alvin Ailey repertoire throughout the NY tri-state area under the direction of Freddie Moore. He is a 2024 graduate of the Certificate Program.