CourentaMai — Festival of the Courenta and Linguistic Minority Dances

CourentaMai, where tradition comes to life on the dance floor

In the village of Mezzenile, nestled in the Lanzo Valleys near Turin, CourentaMai returns—a festival dedicated to the courenta and the dances of linguistic minorities. Now in its twelfth year, the event is one of the few in Italy that focuses on a living dance, passed down orally from generation to generation, rather than a mere performance to watch: people come here to learn, play music, and above all, dance together.

What is the courenta?

The courenta—the "running dance"—has Renaissance origins and has survived to this day with historical continuity only in a few valleys of the western Alps: the Lanzo Valleys, the Vermenagna Valley, the Varaita Valley, and a few others. In the tradition of the Lanzo Valleys, it is sometimes danced while holding branches decorated with flowers and colorful ribbons, symbols of ancient pre-Christian rites. It is a precious intangible heritage, safeguarded by the local Franco-Provençal and Occitan communities.

A festival spread across the Lanzo Valleys

CourentaMai consists of several events: the heart of the festival takes place in Mezzenile, at the evocative Castello dei Conti Francesetti, with a second stop in Pessinetto. The day in Mezzenile alternates between afternoon workshops, activities for children, concerts by traditional music groups, and the great evening dance, the Gran Bal, where musette, bal folk, and courende blend together until late at night.

Music, learning, and connection

The program revolves around three pillars: workshops for dance and singing, offering instruction and demonstrations for a "journey with the body"; conversations and music, which share the experiences of dancers and musicians; and finally, the Gran Bal, a moment of meeting, exchange, and celebration that culminates in the Gran Bourouneri, a jam session open to all folk musicians.

Who organizes it

CourentaMai was born from an idea by the artistic-musical group Blu L'Azard, coordinated by the associations Chambra d'Oc, Tsambra Francoprovensal, and Lo Stivale che Balla, with the support of the Municipality of Mezzenile. The event is sponsored by the Metropolitan City of Turin. The artistic direction is curated by Flavio Giacchero, Marzia Rey, and Pierluigi Ubaudi for Blu L'Azard, together with Romana Barbui and Michele Cavenago for Lo Stivale che Balla.

Why it's worth attending

More than just a concert, CourentaMai is a participatory experience: those who don't know how to dance can learn, musicians can join the jam session, and listeners can discover a linguistic and musical biodiversity unique in the Alpine landscape. It is the perfect opportunity to experience the Lanzo Valleys and the most authentic side of Piedmont, far from mass tourism circuits.