Contemporary Dance Seeks New Rituals Through Three Performances

Three recent performances in Italy reveal a growing desire in contemporary dance to reclaim ritualistic and communal experiences, moving away from consumerist consumption. Anagoor's "Bromio" at Bassano del Grappa transforms spectators into participants, guiding them from an ex-church to a piazza in a bacchic rite. Daniele Ninarello's "Healing Together" challenges audience expectations with slow, seemingly aimless movement, aiming to liberate performance from entertainment. Gruppo nanou's "Redrum" at Pesaro's Hangart Festival offers a free-flowing, durational installation where viewers move at will, blurring the line between performer and audience. These works, while distinct, share a common impulse to reinvent rituals that foster collective breathing and shared vulnerability.