The 2022 Return of the ‘DanzainFiera’ Festival

A student from the Alvin Ailey Dance School

Feb. 25 – 27: DANZAINFIERA, Fortezza da Basso. Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9 am – 8 pm. Admission: 1 day €18, 3 days €40; free for children 5 and under; €12 for 6 – 12-year-olds. The event follows current Covid-19 regulations and a valid Super Green Pass is required for entrance.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, all things dance-related come together once more at the DanzainFiera event in the Fortezza da Basso. The three-day fair brings dancers together to learn, perform and compete. Dancers who just started or professionals can enjoy drop-in classes, exhibitions, meet-and-greets, auditions and competitions. The event combines performance and business of the dance world, as attendees can learn about how to succeed in the industry. Dancewear is also sold. 

SHOWS

Professionals in the field will perform, including Marcello Sacchetta, Santo Giulian and Alice Bellagamba (ballet), but also social media sensation Paola Manghisi and Lorenzo Azzolini (hip hop), who will perform on stage.  At DanzainFiera, guest artists will showcase different dance styles, such as contemporary and modern dance (Friday, February 25 at 3:30 pm).  Students will also display their talents in jazz, hip hop and street dance at 10 am on Sunday, February 27; later on the same day (2:30 pm), “Ballando Viaggiano” will present styles from around the world:  Flamenco, Tango and other Latin American dances, Russian folk dances, Raqs Sha’Abi Raqs Baladi, Raqs Sharqi from the Orient, Tribal Bellydance, Sufi dance and African dance.  Sunday’s DanzainFiera Gala showcases stars from renowned Italian and Parisian companies who offer interpretation of classical, modern and contemporary choreographies (3:30 pm).  

Stage shows have free admission, but for the “Jam Dance Session with Stefano Simmacodo,”guests need to book a reservation in order to participate (Friday, February 25 at 6 pm).

CLASSES & MASTERCLASSES

There are also classes and masterclasses available to all. Already known disciplines and new ones are introduced; dances from all over the world, such as broom dancing (Irish), Afro Yoruba Yemayà (Cuba), and Aparima dance (Polynesia) are introduced to the visitors. (See down below for a short listing of available masterclasses). Classes are free of charge, but masterclasses have a fee.

Below is a sampling of classes and auditions. There are more listings on DanzainFiera’s website.

CLASSES:

Hip Hop Friday, 2:30 pm

Contemporary Friday, 5:30 pm

Aerial acrobatics Saturday, 9 am

Tap Dance Saturday, 12 noon

Classical Ballet Saturday, 5:15 pm, Sunday, 9:30 am & 4:45 pm

AUDITIONS

At DanzainFiera, up-and-coming dancers have the chance to audition for international and Italian schools such as Joffrey Ballet, New York Dance Project, Ailey and Ateneo della Danza schools. A selection of auditions is listed down below.

Most auditions are free of charge. Those that charge a fee, have an *. All require booking. There is limited access to the audition:

Musical:

Musical Times Academy & Spring Awakening the Rock Musical

Friday, 10:45 am – 11:45 am

Dance:

Jazz and Contemporary Audition – Joffrey Ballet School*

Friday, 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Ballet Audition – New York Dance Project NYDP

Friday, 3:30 pm – 4:15 

Contemporary Audition – Ateneo della Danza

Saturday, 5:30 pm – 6:15 pm

Casting Performer Italian Cup – CSAIn CLONE

Sunday, 3 pm – 4 pm

For more information about DanzainFiera, visit: https://www.danzainfiera.it/en/   (ted de veer)