Società di Danza Novara
Nineteeth Century Dances Courses
“To rediscover the charm and pleasure of traditional European society dances. ”
The Società di Danza is a cultural association that deals with the study, practice and dissemination of historical and nineteenth- century dances in particular, its activity is identified in the Manifesto, in the Sistema and in the Materiale Didattico.
The Società di Danza, a cultural association founded and directed by Dott. Fabio Mòllica in Bologna in 1991. organizes continuos courses, reconstructions of gran balli in many Italian cities and in Europa,
training activities, stage and historical dance seminars, produces a series of books on the history
of dance in the nineteenth century and a series of materiale didattico, collaborates with organizations,
institutions and associations and promotes historical research in the field of dance.
The natural evolution of the Società di Danza is the Federation of the Società di Danza active since 2007.
The purpose of the association is the study, dissemination and practice of 19th-century traditional dance.
Our dance system consists of group dances and couple dances;
to the first set belong Quadrilles and Contraddances,
to the second Waltz, Polke, Mazurke, Galop and dances derived from them.
The two sets are not rigidly separated, but live interrelated and form
the choreographic universe of our Società di Danza system of European traditional dance.
The dances of our system are conceived as a small social and artistic project.
The dance activity that we practice falls within the field of social or company dance.
This is a different practice from that which falls within the so-called historical dance.
The historical dance is the product of the research of the “Reconstructors” of ancient dances.
These scholars, using different methods of study, through comparative analysis,
they reconstruct single dances belonging to specific historical moments.
The Dance of Society of the nineteenth-century tradition, that is the system that we practice,
it’s a different experience.
Ours is a synthesis of what hundreds of dance teachers produced in the nineteenth century.
From diversity we have come to homogeneity. On the dozens and dozens of variations of a dance,
we made a synthesis and produced a single sample.
From the great variety in the description of steps and figures we have extracted all the basic elements
and we have placed them at the foundation of a unique “language” on which to base
further development of the system.
In our idea of social dance, the analysis of nineteenth-century manuals leads to synthesis
which establishes precise, clear and shared rules, so that a reality of the past
can return to be a living dance, reproducible and developable in the future.
With this in mind, the Società di Danza organizes Grand Balls and costume shows,
publishes books on the study of dance and organizes courses in Italy and abroad
in order to spread its system.
The Società di Danza is a group affiliated with:
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society di Edinburgo.
The Federation of Società di Danza aims to coordinate national activities
and international associations of the Società di Danza.
Since 1991 the Società di Danza has created:
Great Balls. Reconstruction of nineteenth-century dances in period costume
in historic squares and buildings
i Summer School (since 1993)
Easter Seminar (since 1992)
Historical Dance Seminars (since 1994)
Training Seminar for 19th Century Dance Teachers (since 1993)
International Stage of 19th Century Dance
Grand Ball of the European Union
International Conference 1999, 2000
Grand Balls of the Risorgimento project
Publication of dance books
A book collection created in the library of the Department of Music and Entertainment
of the University of Bologna, containing documents and materials
from different countries on 19th century social dances.
Projects in collaboration with universities, museums, cultural institutes and local authorities
of numerous Italian cities
The “Dance and the city” project in Bologna from 1996 to 2000
Dance Season of the Eighteenth Century
Since 2007 the Società di Danza has continued, developed and expanded these study activities,
research, training, practice and dissemination of nineteenth-century European dance society,
and also has:
developed national and international projects
carried out numerous training activities (courses, internships and seminars) and events in Italy and Europe
developed the Gran Balli Risorgimentali project, aimed at the celebration
of the Unification of Italy and the founding values of the Risorgimento
realized the ‘ Gran Balli dell’Unione Europea‘ , project, aimed at the celebration
of the common historical-cultural identity of European countries
developed projects for training and dissemination of nineteenth-century dance culture
addressed to high school students.
produced and created a film ‘Un’Idea di Danza’ to present the study and dissemination work,
ideas and motivations, dances and the 19th century Gran Ballo.