Giannina Censi: The Futurist Dance Pioneer Who Defied Convention

Giannina Censi (1913-1995), born in Milan to composer Carlo Censi and singer Carla Ferrario, began dance lessons at thirteen with Angelina Gini at La Scala, following Enrico Checchetti's method. In 1929, she debuted in Alcesti and Mistero di Persefone at Teatro Licinum in Erba with Jia Ruskaja's company, and choreographed Danza degli spiriti delle vette at Palazzo Carducci in Como. In 1930, she moved to Paris, studying with Josephine Baker, Uday Shankar, and Lubov Erogova. Returning to Italy in 1931, she choreographed Oppio and Grottesco meccanico at Castello Sforzesco, launching Futurist dance. Noticed by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, she performed in Simultanina (1931) and later at Galleria Pesaro, where she translated Enrico Prampolini's aeropitture into 'aereodanze'—barefoot, musicless, anti-graceful movements in a Prampolini-designed costume. In the 1930s, she choreographed for Alcesti at Littoriale di Bologna, performed in Carillon magico at San Carlo di Napoli, and danced in Fortunato Depero's Il vento and Macchina monella (1934). A 1936 meniscus injury ended her dancing; she taught in Sanremo, Genoa, Milan, and Voghera. In the 1970s, she revived Futurist dance at Galleria Il Brandale in Savona (1979) and was included in Mirella Bentivoglio's exhibition on Italian women avant-garde at Columbia University's Center for Italian Studies. Her archive is at Mart in Rovereto; Cecilia Alemani included her in Il latte dei sogni at the 2022 Venice Biennale.