Ipercorpo Festival in Forlì Explores Fatherhood Across Disciplines

The 15th edition of the International Festival of Performing Arts Ipercorpo took place from May 20 to 27, 2018, in Forlì, Italy, centered on the theme of the father. The festival was held at EXATR, a former bus repair garage from the 1930s, protected by cultural heritage authorities and slated for a €1 million renovation co-funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region. The event was organized by associations Città di Ebla and Spazi Indecisi, together with the Municipality of Forlì. Curators Claudio Angelini (founder of Città di Ebla), Mara Serina, and Valentina Bravetti oversaw the theater and dance program. The festival featured performances by Claudia Castellucci (founder of Socìetas Raffaello Sanzio) with 'Verso la specie', the dance collective Gruppo nanou with a site-specific work 'Il colore si fa spazio' in collaboration with color theorist Daniele Torcellini, and Israeli choreographer Ofir Yudilevitch's 'Gravitas', a duet on an inflatable ring. A masterclass for European operators and workshops connecting performers with local residents (notably with ACER housing) were also held. A curated exhibition titled 'La stanza del padre' by Davide Ferri explored the dual meaning of fatherhood—biological and chosen—featuring works by Agata Torelli, Elena Nemkova, Cesare Pietroiusti, Maria Morganti, and others. The exhibition included intimate talks with artists Flavio Favelli, Maria Morganti, and Franco Guerzoni, who shared personal stories about their fathers.