Fondazione Nazionale della Danza believes that on this theme, more than any other, it is vital to work in partnership with specialist organizations and has found a “scientific” partner and a “producing” partner, in addition to other partnerships.
Reggio Children, a leading international centre of research, innovation and experimentation on educational content and processes, is our scientific partner. With Reggio Children we have shared the objectives and worked at the definition of the themes and the panel of specialists who could give us a contribution. Reggio Children also has the task of monitoring the various stages. This is an important role in a research process.
The desire to arrive at the creation of an innovative show synchronized on time and on the sensibilities of the present is instead shared with Accademia Perduta, a theatre company specializing in productions for young people. The natural outcome of the encounter between these two leaders in their respective fields is the ambition to achieve an emblematic and innovative result.
Thus, we would not be satisfied with merely producing a show, but are initiating a genuine process of investigation of the possible worlds, topics and languages with which to approach young and very young generations. The innovative aspect is the decision not to decide in advance the nature of the show. We are not assuming that the lead artist in the project will be a choreographer, even though the focus will still be on the body as a vehicle for storytelling, aesthetics and reflection.
Starting from Reggio Emilia on 19 May, we hold a series of meetings open to specialists and artists. Those invited to the meetings will include visual and performance artists, psychiatrists and educators, writers and illustrators, as well as specialist practitioners.
The first event will be held in Reggio Emilia on 19 May, during the Reggionarra; the second will take place in July, during Colpi di scena (the biannual festival organized by Accademia Perduta); and the third is scheduled for the autumn, to be held in Reggio Emilia once again. On each occasion, we will present shows with the potential to trigger a reflection within the focus group invited for the discussion. The meeting on May 19 will tackle aesthetics and narratives, and the featured show will be R.OSA by Silvia Gribaudi (with an outstanding ‘oversized’ performing artist). The focus will be on the topic of aesthetics, which strongly influences today’s children, and on how aesthetics organizes social relations and the conception of what is “beautiful” (even in art). The outcome of each meeting will provide the basis for the next one. In principle, the July meeting will revolve around the topic of the journey, taking its cue from L’abisso, a show by Davide Enia.
The whole process will lead to decisions being made on the casting, the design and the topics of a show that Fondazione Nazionale della Danza and Accademia Perduta will produce in 2019.
Another participant in the work to determine the expressive languages and aesthetic content of the project will be GAI – Giovani Artisti Italiani (Young Italian Artists), a circuit supporting young people’s creativity through training, promotion and research activities.
