Canova, at the start in the capital Dance Screen in the land

Dancing on the pure lines sculpted by Antonio Canova, ideally flying on the path that the great artist traced in Rome, drawing a neoclassical map on the discovery of the ancient, but revised with the curiosity of the archaeologist and the modernity of the urban planner. It is with this spirit that the Canova Association 22 conceived and organized the Dancescreen in the land Festival on the occasion of the bicentenary of the death of the artist of Venetian origin who is very close to Rome. On the bill a rich program of outdoor shows with the light of the sunset, contemporary choreographies staged reinterpreting his works, performances, archaeological walks, storytelling and digital collage workshops, creative and free gaming for the youngest.

All in three fascinating locations on the path of Canova’s ‘factory’, on the archaeological layers of imperial Rome, from the Corso to the Appia Antica. From the center to the Roman suburbs, then, from Town Hall I to Town Hall VIII, in twinning with the city of Amsterdam for the Cinedans Festival which relaunches the shows on international platforms. A new multidisciplinary and shared language, surrounded by greenery, to arouse that sense of belonging to a sustainable community. In short, dance between nature, archeology and the web.

It starts on September 1st in the Fornace del Canova, a few steps from via di Ripetta, seat of the association and ancient furnace where the sculptor cooked his terracotta sketches, the event then continues from 8 to 11 in the greenery of the Amphitheater of Borgo Acqua Paola near Bracciano. From 14 to 18 September the festival moves to the Nymphaeum of the Villa dei Quintili, in the Appia Antica Archaeological Park , where Canova worked as superintendent. From 20 September to 9 October we return to the Fornace with performances and events until October 9.

Tribute to Paolina Borghese by Valerio Longo, at ‘ muse ‘del Canova signed Paola Soressa

The sets and installations at the Villa dei Quintili were designed by the PhD students of the Department of Architecture and Design of the Sapienza University of Rome. The videos shot during the festival will be screened in the spaces of the Maxxi Museum in Rome in the autumn. Dancescreen is a three-year project supported by the Mic, for the artistic direction of Fiorenza d’Alessandro in collaboration with Franz Prati, Laura Fusco, Luca Molinari, and shared with the Department of Architecture and Design of the Sapienza University of Rome, the Archaeological Park of ‘Appia Antica and the Maxxi. The project, promoted by Roma Capitale – Department of Culture, is the winner of the Public Notice “Roman Summer 2022 – Let’s rekindle the City, Together” edited by the Department of Cultural Activities and is carried out in collaboration with Siae .

“The history of Canova is curious – explains Fiorenza D’Alessandro – The artist, appointed in 1802 by Napoleon as superintendent for the excavations of the Appian Way, already imagined the creation of a large park. In his tireless artistic and cultural activity he moved between his studies in Via Canova in Campo Marzio and the archaeological site, experiencing the thrill of the discovery of ancient marbles. And now, with the ‘steps’ of the companies we invited, inspired by the Alchemical transformation between earth, air and fire, Canova’s dedication to dance finds life again, testified by the many drawings made on the theme. Thus the gesture that makes the original idea of ​​a work take shape, translated into movement, – he explains again – it makes the body a ‘place’, an urban building / space within a city that transforms itself and that transforms the body that inhabits it “.

Among the shows scheduled at Dance Screen In The Land the homage to ‘Paolina’ Borghese signed by Valerio Longo for the Ballet of Rome, site specific in the spaces of the Fornace on the ‘scene’ of the artist Fiorenzo Zaffina, the creation of Paola Soressa for his company, Mandala Dance Company, dedicated to Canova’s sculptures, from Ebe to Maddalena, up to the Three Graces with ‘Integral White 22’, a contemporary reading of the candid and opalescent white marble which unfolds through an aesthetic research that contemplates harmony, fluidity, gestural elegance.

The rich program of the event also includes archaeological walks, workshops and free creative laboratories

Also awaited the performances of the students of the Academy of Dance, Maria Borgese with the solo ‘Le Maddalene’ (from Antonio Canova to Guido Cagnacci and Giovanni Bellini) accompanied by live music by Claudio Capponi, Antonio Taurino (‘Un Orfeo’), Antonio Scafati with the Ballet Theater Trier (‘Winter’), Paola Sorressa and Mandala Dance Company in memory of Lucien Bruchon (‘Rites of passage’), La Luna Dance Theater and Conero Dance Festival – Wuppertanz (‘The three Marys of the sea’ ), MP3 Project by Michele Pogliani (‘Secret d’or’, homage to Jia Ruskaja, founder of the National Dance Academy).

The rich program of the event also includes archaeological walks, workshops and free creative laboratories and the appointment with Storygame (14 – 15-16 September). Three days dedicated to storytelling on the theme of ‘Cupid & Psyche’ to trace, through the stories made by the participating children, the evolution of an immortal myth. During the first day the teachers, the writer Claudio Marcucci and the director Antonia Renzella, will guide the students in the construction of the stories, on the second day a video will be made, while on the third day there will be Gaming. Through the interactive use of sensors it will be possible to intervene on the recorded videos to change the ending of the story.