Dance in the Pandemic: Between Resistance and Commodification

Stefano Tomassini critiques the state of dance during the COVID-19 lockdown, arguing that the sector in Italy lacks political vision and is treated as mere entertainment. He distinguishes between two types of online dance content: spontaneous, immediate creations that use limited means to convey ideas, and polished, commodified works that fail to reflect the urgency of the moment. Tomassini highlights the debut of '1 meter Closer' by Aterballetto and Diego Tortelli, broadcast on Rai5 on April 29, 2020, as an example of the latter, criticizing its claustrophobic framing and lack of design despite strong performances. He praises the Oriente Occidente Dance Festival's video for its sobriety and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre's Instagram recreation of 'Revelations' (1960) as a model of community and authenticity. The article calls for civil resistance against the imperative of care and the marketing of emergency, advocating for dance as a means of transformation rather than consumption.