THE VIRTUOSITY OF TRANSFORMATION
The main thematic nuclei of the OVER DANCE project are summarized in two substantial development directions, one artistic and one socio-scientific.
- The artistic core of the project is represented by the sharing of a show signed by Angelin Preljocaj and Rachid Ouramdane, performed by dancers over 65, co-produced by FND/Aterballetto with Ballet Preljocaj (Aix-en-Provence), Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse (Paris), Emilia Romagna Teatro ERT/Teatro Nazionale (Modena), Festival Aperto / Fondazione I Teatri (Reggio Emilia), Centro Servizi Culturali Santa Chiara (Trento);
- The socio-scientific plan, developed under the supervision of Fondazione Ravasi Garzanti (Milan), includes scientific research activities, seminar and workshop series, dissemination activities in all involved territories.
It is clear that there is a difficulty in fully acquiring that self-awareness with respect to being the ‘aged society’ we are becoming, despite the concrete and tangible repercussions that progressive ageing entails on a social and especially family level. Developing the theme of aging by starting from the basis of dance in the middle of a historical moment that has brought all the “fragility” of aging dramatically to light is an attempt to dutifully affront our times in itself.
We ponder the eternal question of the body’s transformation at both societal and individual level and how it may be perceived as a vehicle of aesthetics, as well as the need to strengthen awareness of the primary importance of cultural welfare in future society.
Dance – more than any other dimension – is well acquainted with the problem that intervenes around the age of forty of artists interrupting their careers.
The “OVER DANCE” project aims to embark on a journey that brings together actors from the world of artistic production, scientific institutions and welfare operators to share research, define development objectives and build a programme that integrates an artistic plan with civil society and communities.
This definition corresponds to a very wide range of actions promoting a model of wellbeing and healthcare in communities based on artistic practices. We wish to look at those practices that can transform ageing from passive to active.
The project has two separate levels:
- Artistic. Does the non-/young person become a non-/artist? An international partnership supports the creation of a dance performance, directed by Angelin Preljocaj and Rachid Ouramdane, with a cast of performers over 65S. The production premieres on 15 February 2023 at the Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris.
- Socio-cultural: the project aims to promote, with different stakeholders, a transformative reflection on the impact that arts such as dance can generate in terms of health and well-being. Alongside the artistic production, a research project has been launched to explore the relationship between dance – health – ageing; workshops, in-depth actions and moments of interpenetration between artistic creation and community actions are planned.
The dissemination phase of the results is based on the performance created by professional choreographers and dancers, intercepting the complexity of artistic production and making it available for community outreach activities inspired by cultural welfare actions. The theme of ageing in dance becomes a field of experimentation to invent new ages and with them different lifestyles.
Thus, the following are and will be realised:
- workshops in schools aimed at facilitating inter-generational dialogue;
- training seminars for the inclusion of dance in the training of health and care professionals to improve clinical, personal and communication skills;
- cross-sectoral community actions to promote wellbeing and health by appealing to educational, social, health and cultural policies that create public awareness and encourage citizens’ participation in artistic activities for different lifestyles and different ways of interpreting age.
**The project originates from the collaboration between the National Dance Foundation / Aterballetto and the Ravasi Garzanti Foundation of Milan, whose activity is entirely focused on research and policies for aging.**
**OTHER PARTNERS:** The project is open to collaboration with European organizations sensitive to the theme. Israeli choreographer Galit Liss, a member of the Israeli Choreographers Association and a pioneer in the relationship between dance and aging, will be a partner proposing a series of workshops dedicated to non-professional women over 50.
**ASSOCIATED PARTNERS:**
– Municipality of Reggio Emilia;
– Farmacie Comunali Riunite;
– Free University of Crostolo (Reggio Emilia); a center for cultural promotion for the lifelong education of adults;
– Department of Communication and Economics of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia;
– Pietro Manodori Foundation of Reggio Emilia.
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