Spoleto still on the map thanks to the International Dance Week. Around 300 young talents competing, the final Grand Gala on Saturday
Spoleto inaugurates its 33rd edition of the International Dance Week. The event, sponsored by the Municipality of Spoleto, sees the participation of 300 young dancers from all over the world, who will perform on the stage of the Teatro Nuovo Gian Carlo Menotti in the next few days.
A special edition that brings back to Spoleto not only the renowned International Dance Competition, the only one in Italy to be part of the Federation of the most famous Dance Competitions in the world, but also collateral events. At the entrance to the Menotti Theater an exhibition has been set up with images of the winners of past editions, who today are principal dancers in the most important theaters in the world. The program also includes masterclasses also open to those who are not registered in the competition and the presentation of the book by Giovanni Picone, President of the Jury and international star. On Friday 3 May, in the afternoon, cash prizes, medals, scholarships in Italian and foreign dance academies and schools will be awarded and the winner of the Cassa di Risparmio di Spoleto Foundation Grand Prix will be announced. The entire competition will exceptionally be visible in streaming. The events will conclude with the winners’ gala on Saturday 4 May at 8pm, which will also see the participation of Maestro Mvula Alessandro Sungani, Dance Advisor to the Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano.
The jury
President of the jury Giuseppe Picone, international star and principal guest in the most important theaters in the world. At his side Massimiliano Volpini, Director of the Ballet of the National Theater of Zagreb; Reginaldo Oliveira, Director of the Salzburg Theater Ballet, Annamaria Galeotti, Director of the National Dance Academy of Rome; Svetlin Ivelinov, Artistic Director of the Ballet of the National Musical Theater of Sofia and Mauro de Candia, choreographer of international standing. President of the Critics’ Award Sara Zuccari, journalist, historian and dance critic, Director of ufficiodelladanza.com.
Competition
The International Dance Competition will start on Wednesday 1 May with the categories Soloists Classical Section, Soloists Modern/Contemporary Section, Pas de Deux, Choreographic Composition Section, Groups Section. With the classical section divided into two: non-professional schools, on the one hand, and Academies, dance schools of the Opera and/or theater organizations and Professional Schools, on the other. Age between 9 and 24 for the classical and modern sections. However, there is no age limit for choreographers and groups.
The statements
Andrea Sisti, Mayor of Spoleto
Everything, as in this event, is done by building together. Now it is also up to us to consolidate and create the foundations for further development. And it is absolutely right to re-propose things that have been done well in the past. Not everything necessarily has to be innovation. And your, and our, dance kids are true ambassadors of the city, privileged messengers.
Danilo Chiodetti, Councilor for Culture of the Municipality of Spoleto
Spoleto is the city of opportunities and, given the increase in registrations in this edition of the City of Spoleto Dance Competition, we expect an increasingly bright future for the event. For the organizers it is a considerable effort, the administration is close to the event and can only wish it the best.
Paolo Boncompagni, General Director
This is a special edition because we are back to talking about International Dance Week, a container that also combines collateral events with the Competition. Many participants from abroad and great value from the jury. All the selections will be broadcast for the first time in streaming and we expect a great participation in the Gala on Saturday 4th which will open with a choreography performed by the dancers of the Fondazione Formazione Danza e Spettacolo of Genoa.
Irina Kashkova, Artistic Director
Our Jury is extraordinarily qualified, almost all Italians and choreographers, with experience in international theaters and companies. They will be with us all week and will examine around 300 dancers. This year we will have at least more than twenty choreographies on stage. And the arrival of nine competitors from China, who won the IDC China Competition, with which we have been twinned for a few years, is also significant. In total there will be approximately 27 members of the Asian delegation.
Sara Zuccari, President of the Critics’ Award
I have been collaborating with the event for about twenty years and since then we have tried to bring the concept of beauty to the highest level in Spoleto, an already beautiful city. With the hope that a Dance Marathon will also return to the city like it was in 2014 because the public is hungry for dance. The significant thing is that the kids who come to the International Dance Week can also study with top-level choreographers and improve themselves. Including the Spoleto Competition in one’s CV is a source of professional pride for young dancers.
