City in Dance
The national UISP dance competition on the stage of the Vaccaj Theatre in Tolentino
About City in Dance
Tolentino, the capital of dance
Città in Danza is the national dance competition that, for several editions, has chosen the stage of the Nicola Vaccaj Theatre in Tolentino, in the province of Macerata, for its Marche region event. Organized by the UISP Territorial Committee of Macerata with the patronage of the Municipality of Tolentino, the event attracts dance schools, gyms, and associations from all over the Marche region and beyond, transforming the city's historic theatre into a grand celebration of movement for an entire day.
A competition open to all ages
The format is a category-based competition, designed to give space to every generation of dancers. Performances are divided into age groups — Baby, Children, Junior, and Open — and are presented in multiple shows throughout the day, accommodating the growing number of participants. The main dance styles are showcased on stage: classical, modern, contemporary, and hip-hop, in a competition that rewards technique, choreography, and expressiveness.
The jury and awards
A jury of industry professionals, chaired by the national coordinator of UISP dance, judges the over eighty competing choreographies. For each category, the City of Tolentino award and recognitions for best choreography, best technique, and best expressiveness are presented, along with scholarships for the most promising talents. The winning choreographies gain access to the national UISP final, making the Tolentino event a true springboard for young dancers.
Sport, art, and culture in the Marche
More than just a competition, Città in Danza is an educational project that intertwines sport, art, and culture, values at the core of the UISP mission. Special guests in the final performances are often students from the city's Liceo Coreutico (dance high school), highlighting the deep connection between the event and the region's educational fabric. For one day, the Vaccaj Theatre in Tolentino becomes a meeting point for hundreds of families, teachers, and enthusiasts, in a part of the Marche region that uses dance as a shared language across generations.
City in Dance — edition 2026
The 9th edition of the national competition Città in Danza took place on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Nicola Vaccaj Theatre in Tolentino, with great participation and a high artistic level in front of a large audience. Organized by the UISP Territorial Committee of Macerata with the patronage of the Municipality of Tolentino, the day saw over 80 choreographies and hundreds of dancers from numerous schools in the Marche region perform, with special guests being the students from the city's Liceo Coreutico.
The performances were divided into three sessions — Baby category at 12:00 PM, Children at 2:30 PM, and Junior/Open at 5:30 PM — encompassing classical, modern, contemporary, and hip-hop dance styles. The artistic direction was curated by Martina De Felice. Among the awards presented, highlights include recognitions for best technique, choreography, and expressiveness, as well as scholarships: applause for the groups from Cantiere DanzArte of Tolentino and for the winning choreographies, which earned access to the national UISP final.
Programme City in Dance 2026
Sunday, March 29, 2026 — Nicola Vaccaj Theatre
The competition day was divided into three shows by age group, with over 80 choreographies in contention:
- 12:00 PM — Baby category (up to 9 years old)
- 2:30 PM — Children category (10-12 years old)
- 5:30 PM — Junior (13-15 years old) and Open (16+ years old) categories
Styles in competition: classical dance, modern dance, contemporary dance, and hip-hop. The final show featured guest performances by students from the city's Liceo Coreutico. Artistic direction by Martina De Felice; presentation by Serena Bianchini.
Main awards presented
- Baby: "Joy" (classical, ASD Arabesque) — best technique, expressiveness, and City Award
- Children: "Sleepwalkers" (contemporary, Cantiere DanzArte) — best technique, choreography, and expressiveness
- Junior: "Where we fade" (contemporary, ASD A Passo di Danza) — best choreography and technique
- Open: "Sleepwalkers" — the three main awards
Special recognitions and scholarships were awarded to Cantiere DanzArte of Tolentino and Sfumature Danza.
Highlights City in Dance 2026
Prices City in Dance 2026
Practical information — City in Dance
Where
Nicola Vaccaj Theatre, in the historic center of Tolentino (MC), near Piazza della Libertà.
How to get there
By car: Tolentino is accessible from the SS77 Val di Chienti highway (Tolentino exit), about 30 minutes from Macerata and Civitanova Marche. By train: Tolentino station is on the Civitanova Marche–Albacina line. The nearest airport is Ancona-Falconara Airport.
Tickets
Public admission is for individual shows throughout the day; information and participation details are available from the UISP Committee of Macerata and the Vaccaj Theatre box office.
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Where does it take place — City in Dance
Teatro Nicola Vaccaj
Piazza della Libertà, 62029 Tolentino