Ballet in Italy

[pookey]

My husband and I are planning a trip to Italy over one of my layoffs. I would love to see some companies perform and perhaps even take some company classes so as to stay in shape. Anyone have any advice on how to find information to make this possible? We will be in Rome, Florence, Bologna and some other little places. What is the ballet scene like in these areas. Mind you this trip is not until January, We are just trying to get some ideas to pull the plans together.

[vrsfanatic]

There are a number of schools in Florence to take class. There is a website in English and Italian, but I do not remember how I found it.

Off the top of my head, Florence Dance Academy, directed by Marga Nativa and Keith Faronne. Marga was a prima ballerina assoluta with Teatro Comunale in Florence. Keith, an American who danced with Igal Peri in NY. I know they have open classes, day and evenings and English is spoken by some.

I will try to get the address and phone number and also that website.

[pookey]

Thanks for your reply vrsfanatic. sorry it took me so long to respond, been busy with rehearsals. I would love the website address if you happen to come across it. Is there a performing company in Florence?

Antop if your out there do you have any information for me?

[Estelle]

pookey, in Florence there is the company Maggiodanza, they have a web page at: http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/2022/

The direction has changed several times in recent years, and I don't know what kind of repertory they have now (for example a few years ago its director was Karole Armitage).

There is a ballet company in Rome. Again, I don't know exactly in what shape it is (Italian companies seem to have a lot of administrative problems and directions which change often, and the only real big ballet company seems to be La Scala in Milano).

There's also Aterballetto, lead by Mauro Bigonzetti (its style probably is closer to Kylian or Forsythe than real classical ballet), I think it is in Reggio Emilia.

[vrsfanatic]

I am still searching for the website. I cannot find it anywhere.

The ballet company in Florence is part of Teatro Comunale, the largest theatre in Florence. The company works in the opera as well as performing separate concerts at various theatres. The larger hotels have listings. Also you can go to Teatro Comunale and there is a list of events, perhaps only in Italian, but maybe it has changed, I lived there so long ago.

There is also a school in Piazza della Signoria, same piazza as the David (the copy), called Centro Studi di Danza run by another ballerina from Teatro Comunale Cristina Borzoletti, I think is the spelling of her name. She also has a performing group which has been quite good.

The Brenda Hamlyn School on via Maggio has classes for children but I do not know if they have classes for adults anymore.

I know these schools still exist because I have sent others to them. Still searching! Yes, where is antoP?

[vrsfanatic]

In a round about way I found a different website which may interest you since it has information on many international schools.

Type in classical ballet in Florence, Italy

On the first page double click on CyberDance-Ballet on the Net-International Sites

Scroll down to Schools. There are many listings for Italy.

the address of Florence Dance Academy is:

Florence Dance Festival

Borgo della Stella, 23r

50124 Firenze, Italia

Ph. 011-39-055-289276

Fax. 011-39-055-217810

website:florencedance1@leonet.it

I could not reach the website so maybe you need to fax. Keith is American so they will understand your Fax.

I hope you can find the information you are looking for. Buona fortuna!

[antoP]

Hi, I'm here . Pookey, you can try this site:

http://www.ilportaledelladanza.com/compagn...gnie/itaco.html

Here you can find a list of the most important companies in Italy. Unfortunately, it is in Italian, but I think you can get some useful information.

As far as the various performances during this period you can buy two magazines:

Balletto Oggi and Danza & Danza.

Bigonzetti's Aterballetto (Reggio Emilia) and Bozzolini's Balletto di Toscana (Firenze) are a unique company now (I think called Balletto di Toscana, but I don't remember). These are their websites:

http://www.programmifuturi.it/ballettoditoscana/

http://www.crd-aterballetto.it/

In Roma, the most important company is the one of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

http://www.operabase.com/level1/wirmo.html

http://web.tiscali.it/operawb/attivita/scuola/ (the ballet school)

I couldn't find anything about Bologna.

Hope this helps.

antoP.

[pookey]

Thank you so much everyone for all your help. This web site is fabulous. Vrsfanatic and antop your information will be helpful as we continue to plan. Antop the web site about all the companies in Italy was especially enjoyable because quite a while ago I spent two summers at Vignale Danza. It was quite nosatlgic looking at the website.

Can't wait for our trip!

[antoP]

Have a good time in Italy (I'm sure you'll have it )

antoP.