Circolo Pisano della Societa' di Danza
logo.gif logo.gif

Circolo Pisano della Società di Danza


Circolo Pisano

The Circolo Pisano della Società di Danza is a cutural association funded in Pisa in 1994, promotes historical research and practice on Nineteenth Century and Historical dances,
according to the aims of the Società di Danza, cultural association funded in 1991 by Fabio Mòllica, to whom the Circolo Pisano is affiliated.
The society aims at reconstructing a dance system belonging to the European tradition. The 19th Century dances are: quadrilles, country dances, waltzes, polkas and mazurkas.
We aim at researching the artistic technique that in the Nineteenth Century made these dances especially important for the dancing masters and not only mass enjoyment.
The Circolo Pisano della Società di Danza, directed by Simonetta Balsamo,
- is affiliated to the Federation Società di Danza,
- from 1997 is an affiliated group of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society,
- from 2007 is a member of the Comitato degli Amici del Teatro di Pisa,
- from 1999 is one of the fouding associations and is affiliated to the Casa della Città Leopolda of Pisa,
- it belongs to the list of associations (albo delle associazioni) for social promotion of the Provincia di Pisa and the Comune di Pisa,
- it is hosted by the Rete Civica di Pisa. Comune of Pisa.
From 1994 the Circolo Pisano realized:
- courses of 19th century dance,
- cycles of seminars of historical dance, from 15th to 18th century
- reconstructions of 19th century balls in theaters and historical buildings (Teatro Verdi di Pisa, Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Blu, Palazzo Boileau, Sala da Ballo del Casino dei Nobili, Villa di Corliano, Villa Roncioni, Villa Medicea di Coltano, Villa Le Molina, Royal Victoria Hotel, Palazzo Ruschi, Villa dell'Ammiraglio, Villa Alta,Villa del Lupo, Terrazza Mascagni) and historical squares (Piazza dei Cavalieri, Cortile della Sapienza, Logge dei Banchi)
- reconstruction of renaissance fest (Cortile della Sapienza)
- special labs and stages on Scottish country dance, with qualified techers of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society,
- lab 'Danzare Mozart' of 18th century social dance on the music W.A. Mozart,
- events in collaboration with various cultural public and private institutions,
- Gran Ballo dell'Unione Europea realized in Pisa from 1996 to 1999,
- Gran Ballo di Fine d'Anno at the Theater, in collaboration with the Theater Verdi ('Danzando le Operette' in 1997, 'Gran Finale' in 1998, 'Gran Ballo di Fine Novecento' in 1999)
- project 'Il Linguaggio della danza nel rapporto intergenerazionale' with conference and labs, at the 'Casa della Città Leopolda,
- project of dance in the school for children,
- reconstruction of XVIII century dances, also in collaboration with musical and choral associations,
- participation to various performance with historical renaissance dances (e.g., Vincenzo e Galileo, un padre e un figlio, 2008)
- project 'Danzando tra le righe' of 19th century dance and literature,
- project 'Schubertiana' of dance of early 19th century with the music by F. Schubert,
- project 'Scottish Tribute' of Scottish dance and music,
- regular social activities (various annual tea dances, balls in 19th century dress, informal parties, photos exhibitions),
- dance booklet 'Danze e Controdanze' (2001), and some educational material for renaissance dance (2003-2007),
- exhibition of 19th century ball dresses (Royal Victoria Hotel, 1998) ,
- seminars on the history of 19th century dress,
- actively participates to the various activities of the Società di Danza, such as national and international schools, gran balls and events.
The Società di Danza
Link to the Curriculum

The Società di Danza was born in Bologna in 1991, founded by Fabio Mòllica, who taught theoretical -practical laboratories of dance history and historical dance from 1991 at the Dipartimento di Musica e Spettacolo, University of Bologna.
Following the University laboratory the association 'Società di Danza' was born, founded and directed by Fabio Mòllica, researcher in the field of historical dance. During the years several students, and passionate joined the association, so that it grew in several Italian cities and from 2007 also in Europe
The Società di Danza performs historical research on Nineteenth Century and Historical dances. It aims to develop cultural activity in collaboration with Universities, Museum, and Cultural Institutions and local Administrations in various Italian cities.
From 2007 la Società di Danza is is a Federation of Circoli, groups and individuals that agree with the Manifesto, the System and the Educational Material.
Since 1992 it organizes the National Easter School of XIX century dances, now at its 21st edition, and the Summer School - Social dances of European tradition, now at the 18th edition, both of them held every year.
the Since 1993 la Società di Danza funded the Training school for teachers in social dance that lasts three yearsm now at its 5th edition.
Since 1994 it creates the Historical dance school with periodic cycles of seminars, labs and stages with experts and researchers of historical dance.
It has realized international congresses, and the 18th Century Dance Program in the project for 'Bologna 2000, Città Europea della Cultura'.
In Bologna it realized several projects and activities, including the project 'The Dance and the City' from 1996, the 'Gran Ballo dell'Unità d'Italia' from 1994, and from 1997 in collaboration with the Museo del Risorgimento di Bologna, the 'Gran Ballo dell'Unione Europea' from 1995 to 1999. In Modena the 'Gran Ballo Estense' from 1995, in Milano the 'Gran Ballo delle Cinque Giornate' from 2005.
Since 2008 the project 'Gran Ballo Risorgimentale' realized in several Italian cities such as Modena, Milano, Bergamo, Livorno, Ferrara and Napoli.
In 2011 for the 150 years of the United Italy the project 'Gran Ballo Risorgimentale' has been presented in many italian cities, starting from Bologna (1.1.2011, Palazzo Re Enzo), and including Milano (Palazzo Reale), Torino (Circolo Ufficiali), Roma (Vilal Torlonia), Napoli (Palazzo Reale), Modena (Military Academy), Livorno (Naval Academy), Monza (Reggia), Ferrara, Lecce, Lucca, Pisa, Siena, Imola, Forlì and many others.
Link to the list of some balls e performance of the Società di Danza.
It created in Bologna a librarian fund created in the library of the Dipartimento di Musica e Spettacolo dell' Università degli Studi di Bologna.
This fund contains documents and materials coming from different countries on social dances in the Nineteenth Century.
It created a series of books on history of dance, currently including seven volumes.
It realized several reconstructions of Balls in Nineteenth century costumes in theaters, historic buildings and squares in Italy and Europe (including Prague, London, Budapest, Wien, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Füssen-Munich, Loira's Castles) .

Where
Since 1991 the Società di Danza has been active in Bologna, Modena, then in Imola, Reggio Emilia, since 1994 in Pisa, since 1997 in Faenza and Livorno, since 1999 in Ferrara. Since 2002 in Lecce, Bergamo, Milano, Trento e Varese, since 2005 a Manduria (Ta), and since 2006 in Bari. New groups and circoli were funded and joined the Società di Danza, some continuing the activities in towns where Società di Danza has been active for years, and others in new cities: since 2006 there is the new Circolo Bergamasco in Stezzano (Bg), since 2007 new groups in Cesena, Bergamo and the new Circolo in Bologna, since 2008 the new groups in Imola, La Maddalena (Ot), Mantova, Monza-Brugherio, Viareggio and Naples, since 2009 new groups in Padova, Ravina (Tn), Lecco, Lucca, Pescara and Torino, since 2010 in Pavia Forlì and Salerno, since 2011 in Cuneo, Palermo and Siena-Firenze.

In Europe, since 2007 the Circolo Praghese della Società di Danza was born, in 2008 the association organized the first Società di Danza International Meeting, International Training School for XIX century Dance Teachers. In 2008 various groups joined the Società di Danza, from Tampere (Finlandia) and several Russian groups, now twenty groups of various Russian cities (Celjiabinsk, Ekaterinburg, Kazan, Krasnoyarsk, Mosca, Novosibirsk, Nizni-Novgorod, Omsk, Rostov on Don, Saint Petersburg, Seversk, Tomsk, Tymen, Ufa and Voronezh). In 2010 new groups joined the Società di Danza, in Czec Republic (Český Krumlov, Liberec), Bielorussia (Minsk), Ukraine (Kyiv).

Since 2007 la Società di Danza, directed by Fabio Mòllica, is a Federation of Circoli, groups and individuals that agree with the Manifesto, the System and the Educational Material.
Since 2007 Società di Danza is formed by individuals, groups and Circoli that wanted to decide to join the Società di Danza ideas.
The Società di Danza is an open structure that promotes the cultural activity, the communication among its members with the goal to share ideas and projects, with mutual respect and open collaboration.
Groups and Circoli that join the Società di Danza
- share the basic ideas of the Società di Danza, espressed by the Manifesto,
- share the Dance System, described by the books and by the Educational Material,
- share and promote national and international activities, including the two annual Schools, the national Easter School and the Summer School,
- share an open and constructive collaboration, according to the common goals.
2013
Back to the Circolo Pisano page