Your Nature in Motion .
The Pollino Dance Festival is a unique and artistically significant event that brings together students and artists from all over the world and takes place in Episcopia (PZ) in the last week of July. With the claim “Your Nature in Motion,” set in the heart of the Pollino National Park, the festival revolves around the theme of respecting nature and promoting art. The concept involves conducting outdoor classes on a wooden stage built in the forest. For contemporary dance lessons and choreographic workshops, participants work directly on the grass, fully immersed in nature, or through the streets and squares of the village. Performances, residencies, and dance competitions take place in the town’s squares. Live art, environment, and culture coexist in perfect harmony and respect for people and things.
Thanks to short distances, festival locations are easily accessible on foot, allowing for eco-sustainability and significant cost savings. Accommodations are provided by the organization with the support of the municipality, available to participants at a very low cost. Everything is within reach, stress-free, and in a serene environment. Additionally, the festival’s dining facility collaborates with a local restaurant to offer recipes based on locally sourced products, supporting local entrepreneurs.
The festival is created to enable everyone to participate, benefit from high-level training, and receive appropriate recognition and opportunities for artistic growth, thanks to scholarships and internships at dance academies and companies up for grabs. In line with this principle, the Balletto Lucano offers numerous scholarships to access the festival for free or at an affordable cost, supporting and encouraging the participation of young dance talents (with a special focus on local youth) who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Due to the truly affordable costs, many of them have been able to afford an experience that was previously inaccessible, and today, they have become professional dancers working steadily in national and international theaters. The high-cultural and technical artistic staff, in a small, hospitable, and familial context, views their stay in Basilicata as a genuine moment of relaxation and creativity. They appreciate the talents of the young participants better, evaluating their artistic and technical aptitudes.