Roberto Zappalà is the artistic director and choreographer of the Zappalà Danza Company, which he established in Catania in 1990. He has created over 85 works, primarily full-length productions, for his ensemble. A significant recent work is his trilogy Après-midi d’un faune | Boléro | Le Sacre du Printemps, which premiered in 2024. Other notable creations include Cultus, Kristo, and Rifare Bach, which premiered in 2021 alongside an animated film. His pieces A.semu tutti devoti tutti? and La Nona-dal caos, il corpo both won the prestigious Danza&Danza Italian Production of the Year Award.

Zappalà’s career is defined by large-scale projects like Re-mapping-sicily and Transiti Humanitatis, which explore Sicilian identity and human physicality. His collaborative work extends to international companies such as Norrdans, the Gothenburg Ballet, and the Teatro alla Scala Ballet School. He has also worked with renowned opera directors like Federico Tiezzi and Daniele Abbado. Beyond the stage, Zappalà choreographed the opening of the 2011 World Fencing Championships and curated urban parade projects. With Christian Graupner, he co-created the award-winning interactive installation MindBox.

His choreographic methodology is formalized as MoDem, or Movimento Democratico (Democratic Movement). This unique language is taught through the MoDem Pro programme, which feeds into his second company, CZD2. Zappalà authored the book Omnia Corporas, detailing his working process. He is also the founder of Scenario Pubblico, Italy’s first international choreographic centre, named a Centre of National Interest. His many awards include the National Association of Theatre Critics Award and a 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award.