Long wide corsi (avenues) embracing lines of tall trees, wild meadow grass alongside pavements, the inevitable Lambrettas, men racing along the streets in their glamorous Italian cars displaying the industrial legacy of their city. Cafes with smells, bars with smells, chocolateries with smells, trattorias with smells. All smells and aromas which are telling us: we are in Italy.  

We are in Turin…  

To dance.  

And so we did, with around 150 other dancers from various groups around Italy, the UK and even one from New York. Beautiful venue, intriguing name: Lavandería a Vapore. Translates as a steam launderette. Once upon a time a hospital, now a thriving dance venue with great studios and a theatre. 

This was the 6th OPEN Festival, an international initiative created by the DAnzatore INsospettabile (DA/N). A project which aims to create spaces, networks and opportunities for the adult dancer. 

The project aims to demonstrate how every physique, age and ability deserves to be able to dance and perform. Inclusivity at its best. It was also a wonderful opportunity to mingle and talk with other groups and relish in the variety of it all. 

Friday, the day before the performance, we had booked a studio in another part of town for a last two-hour rehearsal. It was very hot, but we got through.  

So, Saturday came about, dress and tech rehearsal with strict times so that the other 20+ groups could be accommodated. It all ran smoothly other than one of our dancers missed a step (it was virtually impossible to see it in the dark) and that hurt. It required intense frozen peas treatment, a bit of massage and caused a lot of anxiety. Would we have to make radical changes, last minute, oh no. At the end it was OK although it wasn’t OK, but our dancer put on her best ‘I’m fine’ face and ploughed through. It was a relief to us all and of course, in retrospect, a bit of unexpected drama adds to the experience . . .  

Talking about experience, this was our first performance outside the UK. It was stimulating and inspiring to perform in a new environment; it had its challenges, but it was also immensely rewarding at so many levels. When ‘we go somewhere else’ it ‘takes us somewhere else’; seeing so many dancers of all ages coming together generates a unique energy, it confirms that openness and expansion is the way forward and in today’s world this is an important concept to embrace and share. This trip has given us another layer of confidence and appetite for more. We have been invited to perform this November in Rome and why not? We are working on this, continuing to expand and grow through dance, what a luxury.  

Can’t wait for the pizzas in Rome!

Festival Details

Artistic direction: Valeria Pomba

Information: ildanzatoreinsospettabile@gmail.com

Info on the DA/N project :ildanzatoreinsospettibile.wordpress.com

DA/N Il Danzatore Insospettabile on socia: @il_danzatore_insospettabile