#134 Italy residency toolbox

4-18 March 2024 Residency in Naples, Italy. Topic: INCLUSIVITY

Inclusivity in dance and the performing arts was the theme of the two-week residency in Italy, part of the creative residency programme "Dancing Together, Again!" organised by Movimento Danza in collaboration with the Arts Research Institute of Georgia, TRAFIK Dance/Theatre Company and the National Institute of Music and Dance of Poland.

The twelve participants in this third residency, which began on 4 March and ended on 18-20 March, were selected through an open call from four participating countries and engaged with the Italian dance community to discuss inclusivity in the performing arts, with a focus on intergenerational and intercultural exchange. The ideas gathered during these exchanges were incorporated into the choreographic creations developed during the residency and presented to the public on Saturday 16 March and Sunday 17 March at Spazio Körper.

"Inclusion", explained Gabriella Stazio, choreographer, director of Movimento Danza and curator of the residency, when she took the floor again, "was the topic we chose because it has been fundamental to Movimento Danza since the beginning of its history".

Indeed, the roots of Movimento Danza lie in an extraordinary experience of Neapolitan social, cultural and political life: the Mensa dei Bambini Proletari. Founded in 1972 in the Avvocata neighbourhood, the idea behind it was simple but highly effective: in exchange for a daily meal, children and young people were required to take part in a series of afternoon educational activities. This experience gave rise to several other initiatives, including the Montesanto Popular Music School, founded in 1979 in the same place as the canteen.

"In those years I was young and unknown," recalls Gabriella Stazio. "I proposed a course in contemporary dance and the idea was immediately accepted. Within a few months, the course had attracted around 600 participants. It soon became clear that dance activities needed a dedicated space and an independent organisational structure. This led to the creation of the Movimento Danza association, founded in 1979.

The key best practices from the DTA! experience in Naples, focusing on inclusivity, are as follows:

- FRAMEWORK. One of the successful aspects of the Naples residency was that Movimento Danza managed to create a well-structured framework within which the artists could research, rehearse and share freely. The efficient management of time, space, logistics and programme allowed the twelve artists to concentrate fully on their collective creative process.

- TUTORSHIP. Another essential practice was the clarity and specificity of the residency's objectives. Through initial, final and in-between regular meetings with the residency curator and staff, the central theoretical theme of inclusion and the practical goals of the residency were clearly defined and thoroughly discussed. The process was consistently shared and advice was given whenever necessary. Doubts, problems and questions were addressed, fostering a strong and unique group spirit among the participants.

- COMMUNITY. The organisation of various meetings with the local artistic and non-artistic communities, as well as informal gatherings and free time in the city, allowed the artists to balance their creative work with an immersion in the local context. This helped to create a deep connection with the territory, its emotions, values, culture and humanity.

It should be added that it was also important that each residency chose a theme that resonated deeply and concretely with the spirit and mission of the host organisation, in order to provide a powerful and meaningful experience for the artists, who could not only offer their specific artistic vision, but also learn from the participating artists and from local best practices.