Europa in Danza - International Dance Meeting
Two days in Rome with Europe's leading dance academies: classes, auditions, competition, and scholarships
About Europa in Danza
A bridge between young Italian dancers and European academies
Europa in Danza is an international dance meeting held annually in Rome, in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, the heart of the Lazio region. Launched in 2016 by industry professionals, the event has established itself as the premier Italian hub for bringing together the directors and faculty of the continent's most renowned dance schools in one place over a single weekend. For a student dreaming of a professional career, being able to meet in two days what would otherwise require extensive travel across different countries is an opportunity worth the trip.
Classes and auditions with the biggest names in European training
The core of the event is a packed schedule of open classes, which double as auditions: each class is led by a teacher or academy director who observes, selects, and awards scholarships and admissions at the end of the meeting. The sessions take place in two parallel studios from morning until late afternoon, divided by style and age group.
- Classical — generally reserved for the 12-17 age group, featuring major European academic schools.
- Contemporary and modern-jazz — dedicated to dancers aged 15 and up, with a focus on companies and research centers.
- Baby and junior categories — for the youngest dancers, with tailored paths and specific awards.
Institutions that have participated in the meeting over the years include the John Cranko Schule in Stuttgart, the Dutch National Ballet Academy, the Staatliche Ballettschule in Berlin, the English National Ballet, the Rambert School, the Ballet Academy of Stockholm, the Iwanson International in Munich, the Contemporary Dance School in Hamburg, and the Dance School of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma.
The Grand Competition and awards
Alongside the classes, the EID Grand Competition takes place, divided by discipline over the different days: one for classical, the other for contemporary and modern. The jury is composed of directors and teachers from the guest academies—the same ones leading the classes—a formula that makes the evaluation concrete and immediately applicable, as the prize is not merely symbolic but translates into a placement, an internship, or a tuition reduction.
The total prize pool consists primarily of scholarships: direct admissions to professional courses, free or 30-50-100% discounted summer intensives, intensive study weeks at junior companies, and quarterly or semester-long programs. Each year, about a hundred dancers are selected from over a thousand participants.
Conferences, performances, and the meeting atmosphere
The program is rounded out by conferences and meetings with industry experts, focusing on professional guidance, dancer health, and study paths abroad, as well as performances and gala evenings that conclude the event with the award ceremony. The atmosphere is that of a major youth gathering: packed studios, families waiting, ballet shoes and gear bags everywhere—an energy that is contagious even for those just watching.
Rome as a backdrop
The choice of Rome is no coincidence. The capital has always been a hub for dance training in Italy, home to the National Dance Academy and the Teatro dell'Opera School, and offers a clear appeal to international participants. The editions have been held in various venues—from the National Dance Academy at the foot of the Aventine Hill to conference hotels in the western part of the city—always with residential formats that allow students and families to stay on-site for the duration of the meeting.
Europa in Danza — edition 2026
11th edition, February 6-7, 2026
The 2026 edition of Europa in Danza confirmed the residential meeting format: two full days, from 9 AM to 6 PM, with classes in two studios and continuous auditions. Many classes were sold out weeks in advance, a sign of the event's constant growth.
Academies present
Participants included, among others, the John Cranko Schule, the Dutch National Ballet Academy, the Staatliche Ballettschule Berlin, the English National Ballet, the Rambert School, the Ballet Academy of Stockholm, the Munich International Ballet School, the European School of Ballet, the Contemporary Dance School Hamburg, Iwanson International, ARTEZ, the Conservatoire de la Danse of Brussels, the Youth Company of the Finnish National Ballet, and the Dance School of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma.
Programme Europa in Danza 2026
Friday, February 6, 2026 — classes and auditions
- 09:00-10:15 — Cristina Saso, European School of Ballet (classical, 12-17 years)
- 09:00-10:15 — Raul Valdez, Contemporary Dance School Hamburg (contemporary, 15+)
- 10:30-11:45 — Cyril Pierre, Munich International Ballet (classical, 12-17 years)
- 10:30-11:45 — Johannes Härtl, Iwanson International (contemporary, 15+)
- 12:00-13:15 — Tadeusz Matacz, John Cranko Schule (classical, 12-17 years)
- 12:00-13:15 — Annarella Sanchez, Conservatorio Annarella (classical, 12-17 years)
- 13:30-14:45 — Nina Funk, ARTEZ (contemporary, 17+)
- 13:30-14:45 — Rossana Caldarera, Area Jeune Ballet (contemporary, 17+)
- 15:00-16:15 — Ryan Carroll, Dutch National Ballet Academy (classical, 12-17 years)
- 15:00-16:15 — Lotte Sigh, Copenhagen Contemporary (contemporary, 17+)
- 16:30-18:00 — Adrienne Åbjörn and Eytan Sivak, Ballet Academy of Stockholm (contemporary/jazz, 15+)
Saturday, February 7, 2026 — classes and auditions
- 09:00-10:15 — Ibrahim Önal, English National Ballet (classical, 12-17 years)
- 09:00-10:15 — Manon Bastardie, B&M2 Junior Company (contemporary, 15+)
- 10:30-11:45 — Eleonora Abbagnato, Dance School of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma (classical, 12-17 years)
- 10:30-11:45 — Francesco Curci, Pôle National Supérieur (contemporary, 15+)
- 12:00-13:15 — Marcos Becerra, Youth Company Finnish National Ballet (classical, 12-17 years)
- 12:00-13:15 — Martine van Santen, Dance in Art (contemporary, 15+)
- 13:30-14:45 — Inès Cera, Conservatoire de la Danse Bruxelles (classical, 12-17 years)
- 13:30-14:45 — Darren Ellis, Rambert School (contemporary, 15+)
- 15:00-16:15 — Marta Diminich, Staatliche Ballettschule Berlin (classical, 12-17 years)
- 15:00-16:15 — Stephen Delattre, Delattre Dance Company (contemporary, 15+)
- Also featuring the class by Elena Ciavarella, ARC Dance Program (contemporary)
EID Grand Competition 2026
- Friday, February 6 — classical category
- Saturday, February 7 — contemporary and modern categories
- International jury composed of directors and teachers from guest academies, conferences, and final awards ceremony with scholarship distribution
Highlights Europa in Danza 2026
- Over twenty audition-classes in two parallel studios, many sold out before the event
- Eleonora Abbagnato's class for the Dance School of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
- Tadeusz Matacz for the John Cranko Schule in Stuttgart
- EID Grand Competition with international jury and final awards
- Scholarships from 30 to 100 percent, direct admissions, and summer intensives (Munich International Ballet School, Dutch National Ballet Academy, Dance in Art, Delattre Dance Company, and others)
- About one hundred dancers selected from over a thousand participants
Prices Europa in Danza 2026
Practical information — Europa in Danza
Venue
The 2026 edition was held at the Hotel Roma Aurelia Antica, in the Aurelio district of Rome, a conference facility with equipped studios and accommodation options for participants.
How to get there
By car from the Grande Raccordo Anulare, take the Aurelia exit; on-site parking is available. By public transport, from Roma Termini station, reach the area via Metro Line A to Cornelia, then continue by bus. Fiumicino Airport is about a half-hour drive away.
Registration and costs
Classes and auditions can be purchased individually on the official website and often sell out well in advance. Registration for the Grand Competition is done via a form downloadable from the 'Palcoscenico' section of the website. For non-participating members of the public, access to performances is regulated by the organization.
Contacts
General information: [email protected] — Competition: [email protected] — Phone: +39 348 6008295. A dedicated discount code is available for participants' accommodation.
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Where does it take place — Europa in Danza
Hotel Roma Aurelia Antica
Hotel Roma Aurelia Antica, 00165 Roma