Join us at Istantedanza showcase!
We are thrilled to invite you to the 2026 edition of ISTANTEDANZA | Dancing the present, taking place this November in the heart of Italy's Emilia-Romagna region (Bologna, Modena, and Cesena). This year, we are doubling the rhythm!
To offer you the best of contemporary dance without the rush, we have structured the festival across two intense, distinct weekends — designed to showcase the vibrant choreographic scene of our region in dialogue with international partners. Whether you join us for one or both, we have curated your perfect networking and showcasing diary.
🌟 WEEKEND 1: THE DIALOGUE WEEKEND (Bologna ⇄ Barcelona)
November 20 – 22 | Bologna & Cesena
An intense weekend built around artistic dialogues and shared creative spaces between prominent Italian voices and leading artists from the Catalan scene. In Bologna, we kick off with Catalogo, where Marta Ciappina embodies the visions of some of Italy's most influential contemporary choreographers—Silvia Gribaudi, Francesca Pennini / CollettivO CineticO, Sotterraneo, Emio Greco | Pieter C. Scholten, and Marco D'Agostin—in a collective solo exploring farewell, transformation, and the desire to keep existing through constant renewal.
The programme continues with the physical research of Gaetano Palermo & Michele Petrosino. The Barcelona connection brings the hypnotic, sound-driven work of Aurora Bauzà & Pere Jou and the sharp digital-pop commentary of Núria Guiu Sagarra (both presented as National Premieres). On Sunday, the dialogue expands to nearby Cesena with works by Claudia Castellucci and Nicola Galli.
⚡ WEEKEND 2: THE LEGACY WEEKEND
November 27 – 29 | Bologna & Modena
A weekend dedicated to physical legacy and memory, exploring how creative history is transmitted, shared, and re-imagined across generations of dance makers. Just a 20-minute train ride apart, Bologna and Modena host a dense map of encounters connected by an extraordinary red thread. Experience the rare stage presence and poetry of Carolyn Carlson, whose artistic lineage directly connects to Michele Abbondanza & Antonella Bertoni. In a beautiful twist of intergenerational transmission, these two icons of Italian dance are performing a new creation choreographed by the younger duo Ginevra Panzetti & Enrico Ticconi. This dialogue on physical heritage is shared by Simona Bertozzi and further developed by a wave of contemporary artists including CollettivOCineticO, Davide Tagliavini, Cinzia Pietribiasi, Fabrizio Favale, Vittorio Pagani, Giorgia Lolli, and Francesca Siracusa.
📅 One Festival, Two Journeys. Which one is yours?
We know how busy the autumn season is. We designed this dual-weekend formula so you can tailor your trip to your agenda:
· The Dialogue Weekend (Nov 20-22): Experience the artistic bridge between Bologna and Barcelona, from the theater spaces of Bologna to Cesena.
· The Legacy Weekend (Nov 27-29): A journey through physical heritage, legacy, and intergenerational creation between Bologna and Modena.
· The Grand Tour (Nov 20-29): Stay with us longer, catch the mid-week events, visit our museums theatres and residency spaces and … enjoy Italy's culinary capital while working remotely from our dedicated workspaces!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us:
[email protected] | [email protected]
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A project by Emilia Romagna Teatro ERT / Teatro Nazionale
in collaboration with ATER Fondazione and Tavolo Regionale della Danza
with the support of Regione Emilia-Romagna
The featured performances are presented with the support of Institut Ramon Llull, Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) and CataLANDance – Catalan Government – Catalan Arts, the patronage of the Embassy of Spain and in collaboration with Fondazione MAST and Centro La Soffitta | Department of the Arts – University of Bologna.
The additional venues are kindly provided by Mismaonda and Societas.