District Dance Festival

A dance festival born in the neighborhoods

The District Dance Festival is a contemporary dance event conceived and directed by Compagnia Atacama, a historic Roman dance company led by Patrizia Cavola and Ivan Truol. The project was born in 2022 with a simple yet ambitious vision: to bring auteur dance to places where it usually doesn't reach—neighborhoods, local community spaces, and public parks across the city of Rome. The first editions were held between San Lorenzo and Ostiense, in venues like La Scatola dell'Arte and Teatro Marconi; in recent years, the festival's heart has become the Villa Lais Amphitheater in the 7th Municipality, one of the capital's most beautiful open-air theaters.

What to expect

The program alternates between evening shows, open workshops, and site-specific performances designed for the villa's green spaces. The festival follows a decentralized format: the audience doesn't just watch, but is invited to engage with the creative process through meetings with choreographers, open rehearsals, and free movement workshops. Alongside Compagnia Atacama, the festival hosts some of the most established names in Italian contemporary dance, with works tackling pressing social and contemporary themes: the fragility of the body, collective memory, gender-based violence, and the exhaustion of modern humanity.

• Evening shows at the amphitheater, usually at sunset, when the Roman summer heat becomes bearable;
• Free workshops for adults and children, led by guest dancers and choreographers;
• Site-specific performances in the park, interacting with the trees, staircases, and urban landscape;
• Artist encounters, designed to bridge the gap between local audiences and a dance language often perceived as challenging.

Villa Lais, an amphitheater in the greenery

Villa Lais is a public park located between the Appio Latino and Tuscolano districts, just a short walk from the subway. Its natural amphitheater, nestled in greenery, has become one of the most vibrant spaces of the Estate Romana (Roman Summer) in recent years: the tiered seating slopes down toward the open-air stage, allowing for a level of intimacy rarely found in traditional theaters. It is a setting that lends itself perfectly to contemporary dance, where the relationship between the body, natural light, and open space is an integral part of the dramaturgy.

A project rooted in the territory

The festival has always moved forward with the support of local institutions: early accolades included winning the Estate Romana grant from the Cultural Department of Rome, while more recent editions have been held in collaboration with and under the patronage of the 7th Municipality. This local rooting is the hallmark of the project: Compagnia Atacama has spent years working on the relationship between dance and community, and the District Dance Festival is its most visible public expression. In the Lazio region, where the summer scene is dominated by large-scale musical events, the festival occupies a precious space: that of a research-driven, accessible, and neighborhood-oriented event.

Who is it for?

Despite its research-based roots, the District Dance Festival is not just for industry insiders. A portion of the program is traditionally dedicated to children and families, featuring shows based on classic fairy tales and movement workshops designed for the little ones. Dance enthusiasts will find new productions by Compagnia Atacama alongside creations from guest companies from all over Italy. Ticket prices remain affordable, and workshops are free upon reservation—a choice consistent with the project's commitment to community accessibility.