AREAL space & Italian Cultural Institute in Bucharest

2 - 15 November, 2025

CORPO VIVO – workshop & performance | call for participants | deadline October 25, 2024

Part of the AREAL Residency 2024 programme, two Italian Artists Maruska Ronchi and Ilaria Vergani, will offer a dance workshop & performance experience to a group of 10-12 people based in Bucharest for a collective and participatory creative process on the theme “What brings us together”. The aim of this workshop is to create a dynamic and collaborative space where Romanian participants work together to explore the theme and develop new artistic ideas and choreographies. The most important will be the process that will be shared step by step with all participants, and it will end a site-specific performance presented at the Italian Cultural Institute in Bucharest as a final presentation of the Corpo Vivo residency.

What brings bodies together? What collective needs do we have today and how can we raise awareness in our bodies? What physical forces are we subject to, time, gravity? What anthropological, cultural and social forces are we subject to? How do these forces affect us and change our bodies? How can we return to the “wild” within us to liberate, transform, unite? How is the nervous system of an adult who lived through the 90s in Romania different from a teenager today who spends a lot of time on social media, how does she react to movement, how do her archetypes influence her? What can we learn from different bodies/biographies? In this era of hyper globalization which constantly contradicts itself on the question of identity and borders where the need to belong is of purely economic interest, it is interesting to return to the wild/body to distinguish what truly brings us together and unites us from those instincts finally imposed by the system.

The body is the primary element through which we interact with the world, serving as the centre of our perceptual experience. The body (leib) as a living body is the body that responds to experience and is shaped by it. It possesses its own intelligence, a personal memory, but also a collective one. The body is like a treasure chest of memories that can be opened through movement and dance. In an increasingly complex society, where an overwhelming multitude of information travels at the speed of light, taking a step back, pausing, lingering, withdrawing, contemplating, and listening to oneself can be a revolutionary act. (Maruska & Ilaria).

FACILITATORS

The two facilitators of the workshop – Maruska Ronchi and Ilaria Vergani – are experienced professional dancers and choreographer based in Italy who will guide the creative process, offers technical suggestions, and help to maintain a collaborative and respectful environment. They may also provide specific tools and techniques to enhance the participants’ skills and facilitate the creative process. The workshop fosters a strong sense of community and mutual support. Sharing ideas and being open to others’ opinions are essential for the success of collective creation. Each participant is encouraged to contribute actively and support their peers. The workshop will take place in English. 

PARTICIPANTS & REGISTRATION

We are looking for a diverse group of 10-12 people with different ages, gender, ethnicities, and experiences. The project is open to artists, dancers, movers, actors, as well as people with any kind of experience. We are looking for people interested in a creative process. If you are looking for an inspiring and transformative experience that encourages collaboration and experimentation, leading to the creation of new and original dance works, this workshop is for you. Please register to the email areal@arealcolectiv.ro by October 25 with a short letter of interest mentioning age, profession and interest. If you have questions, please contact Cosmin Manolescu at cosmin@arealcolectiv.ro.

All participants should be available for the whole duration of the workshop as follows

Saturday 2 November, Sunday 3 November | 11h-17h00 with lunch break (1h), AREAL space 

Friday 8 November | 18.00 – 21.00, AREAL space 

Saturday 9 November and Sunday 10 November – – AREAL space | 11h-17h00 with lunch break (1h), AREAL space 

Wednesday 13 November & Thursday 14 November – rehearsals (time will be agreed later) – Italian Cultural Institute

Friday 15 November – final site-specific performance | 18 – 21 – Italian Cultural Institute in Bucharest

Corpo Vivo workshop & final performance are part of the two-week AREAL residency 2024 offered to Italian choreographers Maruska Ronchi and Ilaria Vergani, jointly co-organised by AREAL and Italian Cultural Institute in Bucharest, cultural project co-funded by Administration of National Cultural Fund. The programme does not necessarily represent the standpoint of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN cannot be held liable for the content of the programme or the manner in which the outcomes of the programme may be used. These shall devolve entirely on the beneficiary of the financing.

photos : Paolo Gabrieli