INDIAN DANCE IN ITALY

The “DANCE IN-IT Project” is an innovative and unprecedented work designed and conceived by a group of Italian female artists specialized in Indian dance-theatre. The project aims at disseminating the contents of Indian dance theatre in innovative ways.
The Dance In-It research and actions are based on the decades-long professional experiences and the passion for Indian culture that qualify its members. Educational and collective teaching is associated with creative artistic and performative work where the dimension of active practice is combined with different cultural and scientific disciplines. 
We were born in 2021 during the lockdown period from an idea by Stella Penzo. Due to the restrictions, the project initially developed through monthly online meetings. Later, we worked on creating our first production in self-funded artist residencies, which are our only opportunities to develop new choreographic work, given our different cities of origin.
We performed in Chianni (PI), Polcenigo (PN), at PACTA dei Teatri in Milan, at the Aria Contemporary Theatre Festival, at the University of L’Aquila and at Teatro Due Mondi in Faenza (RA).
In 2023, we created Filter. Dance in Conversation, a series of four interview cycles with Indian classical dancers on Instagram, exploring unconventional themes such as the body, tradition and betrayal, and identity.
Currently, Dance In-It is a collective of five dancers, specialized in Odissi, one of the most graceful and ancient forms of Indian classical dance. We continue to explore new artistic expressions while staying rooted in the tradition, and our work is a testament to the importance of collaboration and the power of dance to transcend individual backgrounds.
One of the guiding principles of the collective is respect for the differences of bodies, valuing individual biographies and identities, within a cohesive group choreographic work. Our goal is to establish a relationship between Indian classical dance and our own culture. Our work is driven by the exploration of performative languages, the creation of innovative interaction methods, and the construction of an inclusive community of performers. Over the past few years, our group has evolved, welcoming various members from different styles and traditions of Indian classical dance. From Bharatanatyam to Kathak, Odissi to Kathakali, Kuchipudi to Manipuri each dancer has brought her own unique background and experience, enriching our collective with diverse perspectives and artistic voices. We are open to expanding our community and inviting new members who share our passion for Indian classical dance and theatre and our commitment to exploring the depth and diversity of Indian classical traditions.
Whether you are an experienced dancer or someone looking to explore this art form, we welcome those who are eager to grow together, contribute to a creative and inclusive environment, and further develop the unique voice of our collective.
Join us as we continue to celebrate the legacy of Indian classical dance while forging new paths and connections through movement.

The Dance In-It team,
Stella, Lucrezia, Cristiana, Antonietta and Francesca

ARTISTIC RESUME
July 2021: Artist residency at the Teatro del Montevaso, Tenuta Agroforestale Montevaso in Chianni (PI).
July 2021: Natyamrita performance in Chianni (PI).
September 2021: Artist residency at the former Franciscan Convent of San Giacomo in Polcenigo (PN).
October 2021: Natyamrita performance in Polcenigo (PN).
November 2021: Natyamrita performance at PACTA dei Teatri, Milan.
May 2023-May 2024: Filter. Dance in Conversation. Series of interviews on Instagram.
May 2024: Artist residency No Tradition Without Contemporary and site-specific performance In My Body, Contemporary Theatre Festival ‘Aria’, University of L’Aquila, in collaboration with the Academy of Fine Arts of L’Aquila.
May 2024: Interdisciplinary conference Indian Classical Dance Theatre as a Shared Mind – Indian Performing Arts in Conversation with Cognitive Sciences, Contemporary Theatre Festival ‘Aria’, University of L’Aquila, in collaboration with Roma Tre University.
October 2024: Artist residency at Teatro Due Mondi in Faenza (RA) and dance performance In my Body.
January 2025: Artist residency at Art Vision, Bhubaneswar (India), led by Padmashree Ileana Citaristi.