Oriente Occidente launches digital archive of 50 years of contemporary dance

The Italian cultural association Oriente Occidente, founded in Rovereto in 1981, has launched a digital archive documenting 45 years of contemporary dance. The archive, accessible on the association's website, was created through a digitization project started in 2022 and funded by the European Union's Next Generation EU – PNRR Digital Transition for Cultural and Creative Organisms, with support from Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Trento e Rovereto. It contains posters, images, videos, show notes, and profiles of artists and choreographers who participated in the Oriente Occidente Dance Festival since 1981, as well as records of artistic residencies and community projects. The project was led by Oriente Occidente's communication office with archival expertise from Francesca Venezia and technical development by Cantiere Creativo. In 2025, the association is celebrating its anniversary with special initiatives, including the digital archive and expanded collaborations. New partnerships include a project called D.Arte with the Mart museum, involving choreographic research between art and dance, culminating on October 4 during the Giornata del Contemporaneo. Additional collaborations are underway with the Museo Civico di Rovereto, Muse, and Fondazione Museo storico del Trentino. The Oriente Occidente Dance Festival, one of Italy's most important contemporary dance festivals, will take place from September 5 to 14, 2025.