Ballinsé – International Festival of Dance, Music, and Folk Culture

A festival born from 'Restanza'

The Ballinsé – International Festival of Dance, Music, and Folk Culture was founded in 2022 in Panni, a tiny village perched in the Monti Dauni, in the Province of Foggia, on the border between Puglia and Campania. The idea comes from Rocco Gesualdi, artistic director and soul of the Rione Popolare APS association, who wanted to transform a town of just a few hundred inhabitants into an international crossroads of dance, sound, and culture. The festival celebrates 'Restanza': the choice to stay, live, and help one's land flourish through openness, exchange, and transformation.

Five days of tarantellas, quadrilles, and ancient rituals

Each edition is divided into five themed days, each featuring concerts, workshops, and communal moments. The program ranges from quadrilles and tarantellas to Romanian, Greek, French, and country dances, from ancient songs and rituals to the beat rhythms of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, all the way to the tarantellas of Aspromonte, the Feast of the Ears of Wheat, and the zampogna (bagpipes) of Panni. The program brings together over seventy folk musicians and dance instructors, dozens of workshops, sunrise concerts, contests for emerging young artists, book presentations, and photo exhibitions.

Community, hospitality, and sustainability

Ballinsé is not just about entertainment. The village organizes to welcome participants with a communal canteen, the 'Rione Cordiale', accommodation in campsites, gymnasiums, and shared houses, and a 'Bimbi...nsé' space with babysitting services for families. The festival adheres to the values of the UN 2030 Agenda: no plastic or disposable paper, reusable cups and steel trays, waste reduction, and messages of peace and inclusion.

Panni, a village in the Monti Dauni

Experiencing Ballinsé also means discovering Panni and the landscape of the Monti Dauni: stone alleys, views of the Apennines, and authentic flavors like ciambotta, peppers, cacioricotta, and salt cod served at the festival's long communal tables. It is an immersive experience that weaves together music, folk traditions, and community life, drawing thousands of visitors to Panni from all over Italy and abroad.