Marinella Senatore's Urban Performance Takes Over Palermo for Manifesta

Marinella Senatore (born 1977 in Cava de' Tirreni) staged a large-scale urban performance titled "Procession" as part of Manifesta Palermo 2018. The event, which took place in the historic center of Palermo, involved hundreds of actors, local residents, and unsuspecting tourists who mistook the artistic intervention for a spontaneous community celebration. The performance incorporated music, theater, and dance, reinterpreting civil and religious ritual forms to awaken civic consciousness and reflect on community values. Participants included children from the multiethnic Ballarò neighborhood, majorettes from Capaci, and a brass band—an essential element of any Sicilian procession. The parade started from Piazza Pretoria, led by Senatore herself, and wound through the streets and alleys of the historic center, ending at Foro Italico. The dancing march energized onlookers, who joined the singular cortege out of curiosity and amusement. The work was one of the most anticipated events of Manifesta Palermo, the 12th edition of the nomadic European biennial, held in Palermo in 2018.