Danzarìa - Folk in Schools, Schools in the Squares

Danzarìa: when schools take to the streets to dance

Danzarìa - Folk in Schools, Schools in the Squares is one of the most deeply rooted folk education experiences in Apulia. Organized by the Zingaria Association through the Carovana Folkart project, it serves as the final showcase for the folk dance workshops held by the association's instructors throughout the school year in numerous schools across the provinces of Foggia, BAT, and Bari, in collaboration with teachers and tutors. The gathering is itinerant, visiting different towns every spring, with the village of Biccari, in the heart of the Daunian Mountains, being a regular host.

Folk enters the school, the school enters the squares

The title captures the project's entire philosophy. During the year, folk music "enters the school": dance instructors work with classes, teaching children traditional steps, rhythms, and repertoires. In the spring, it is the school's turn to "enter the squares": children and teenagers bring what they have learned to the town center, transforming the squares, courtyards, and alleys of Biccari into a large, sprawling stage. The repertoire is intentionally multi-ethnic, featuring dances from European and non-European cultures, alongside Apulian traditions such as the pizzica.

A day of color, music, and connection

On the day of Danzarìa, the small town of Biccari fills with smiles and color. Various school groups, arriving from neighboring towns, perform in turns and share common dances prepared in coordination between schools. The event brings together primary and secondary school students, alternating group choreography, traditional games, and moments of collective celebration. A recurring theme is the message of peace and intercultural dialogue: through dance, young people discover and learn to respect cultures different from their own.

Biccari and the Daunian Mountains

For Biccari—a village in the Daunian sub-Apennines in the province of Foggia, Apulia—hosting Danzarìa is an opportunity to celebrate identity and community. The Municipality sponsors the initiative, which is carried out in collaboration with the local comprehensive school and local associations like Agorart. For visitors, the day is also a chance to discover a town overlooking the Daunian Mountains, famous for its Byzantine Tower, Lake Pescara, and the nearby Adventure Park.

An educational project that has become a tradition

Born in the early 2000s, Danzarìa has surpassed twenty editions, establishing itself as a fixed appointment in the school and cultural calendar of the Capitanata region. It is not merely a show, but the culmination of an educational journey that values folk dance as a tool for socialization, inclusion, and the transmission of collective memory. Behind every stop on the tour is the hard work of the Carovana Folkart team and the enthusiastic participation of hundreds of Apulian students.