Palinuro Dance Festival
Five days of high-level dance training and performances in Palinuro, in the heart of Cilento
About Palinuro Dance
Signature dance on the promontory of Capo Palinuro
The Palinuro Dance Festival is the premier dance event on the Cilento coast. It takes place every year in early July in Palinuro, a village in the Municipality of Centola, in the Province of Salerno, within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. The main venue is the Antiquarium Archaeological Museum, a small museum overlooking the sea in the Ficocella area, which transforms for a few days into a large open-air artistic laboratory: makeshift studios, dance floors, students in practice gear, and their families, all set against the backdrop of the Capo Palinuro promontory.
Advanced training: disciplines and masters
The core of the festival is the workshop. The days are filled with classes in classical, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theatre dance, led by instructors of national and international fame. Over the years, the Cilento stage has hosted names such as Andrey Fedotov, former principal dancer of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Stefano Angelini, Anbeta Toromani, Alessandro Macario, Davide Di Micco, Luciano Ceramaglia, Kledi Kadiu, as well as television guests Marcello Sacchetta and Giulia Pauselli.
- Daily classes by level, from beginner to advanced
- Direct interaction with professional masters and choreographers
- Workshops on stage presence and character development
- Supplementary educational meetings (including a session on sports nutrition in 2026)
Artistic direction with a Neapolitan soul
The festival was born from the vision of Luigi Ferrone, former principal dancer of the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, and Corona Paone, actress and educator, both deeply rooted in the history of Neapolitan ballet. They oversee the artistic direction, with the organization managed by the Crown Ballet School of Naples. The underlying concept, summarized by the slogan used in several editions, "Where dance study meets vacation," is simple: combining a week of serious training with a seaside holiday, allowing technical growth to become a group experience and a discovery of the local area.
The final show, the highlight
The study days culminate in the final performance, which is open to the public and is always the most anticipated event. In some editions, it has been held in the spaces of the Antiquarium, while in others, it has taken place at the "ex Central Park" sports complex on Via Fratelli Capozzoli. The stage features choreography prepared during the workshops alongside performances by the masters, in an evening that attracts both residents and vacationers.
The festival and the region
The Palinuro Dance Festival is patronized by the Municipality of Centola and represents one of the cultural highlights that kick off the Cilento summer season. Participating dance schools arrive primarily from Campania, but there is no shortage of students from the rest of Southern Italy; the economic impact, including families and hotel stays, makes it an event that extends beyond the artistic sphere. The formula, repeated for nearly twenty years, has made Palinuro a small summer reference point for dance in Southern Italy.
Who is it for?
- Students and dance schools looking for an intensive summer workshop with high-profile instructors
- Families accompanying students, combining training with a seaside vacation
- Locals and tourists interested in the final evening performance
Those arriving in Palinuro during these days will find, in addition to the festival, one of the most famous stretches of the Campania coast: the sea caves of Capo Palinuro, the Blue Grotto, the beaches of Buondormire and Ficocella, and an inland area of villages that deserves at least a day of exploration.
Palinuro Dance — edition 2026
The 19th edition
In 2026, the Palinuro Dance Festival reached its nineteenth edition, confirming the formula that has ensured its success: high-level dance training, personal growth, and promotion of the territory. For five days, the Antiquarium Archaeological Museum of Palinuro, in the Municipality of Centola, welcomed hundreds of students and their families for an intensive experience of study, exchange, and performance.
New features in 2026
The edition expanded the program beyond just training activities. The first evening was dedicated to traditional Neapolitan comedy with "A morte è 'na brutta cosa," performed by the Compagnia Instabile Fatima of Salerno; nutritionist Febo Quercia met with students for a session dedicated to sports nutrition. A way to support young dancers even outside the rehearsal room.
"Danzano le Stelle"
The festival concluded with the "Danzano le Stelle" show, a two-day event held on Friday and Saturday, presented by Annapaola Voto, who introduced the performances of the young students. The stage showcased the results of the work done during the study days, with the participation of the masters.
The event, organized under the direction of Luigi Ferrone and Corona Paone, was patronized by the Municipality of Centola.
Programme Palinuro Dance 2026
Disciplines
Days filled with classes in classical, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and musical dance, led by nationally and internationally renowned instructors.
Instructors of the 19th edition
- Andrey Fedotov
- Corona Paone
- Stefano Angelini
- Luigi Ferrone
- Anbeta Toromani
- Alessandro Macario
- Rosaria Crispino
- Davide Di Micco
- Luciano Ceramaglia
- Antonio Capasso
- Massimo De Rogatis
- Fritz
- Fabio De Giorgio
Evening events
- First evening: "A morte è 'na brutta cosa," traditional Neapolitan comedy with the Compagnia Instabile Fatima of Salerno
- Educational meeting: Nutritionist Febo Quercia with students, on sports nutrition
- Friday and Saturday: Final show "Danzano le Stelle," presented by Annapaola Voto
Participating schools
Among the schools participating with dozens of students: the schools of Ilenia Ippolito, Anna Iorio, Valeria Milingi, Antonella Costabile, Loredana De Filippis, the Ballet Studio Dance Project, and the school directed by Carmen Abate.
Note: Exact class schedules were not publicly released by the organization.
Highlights Palinuro Dance 2026
- 19th edition, five days at the Antiquarium Archaeological Museum of Palinuro
- Final show "Danzano le Stelle," two evenings presented by Annapaola Voto
- Debut of theatrical events with the Neapolitan comedy "A morte è 'na brutta cosa"
- Nationally and internationally renowned instructors, from Andrey Fedotov to Anbeta Toromani and Alessandro Macario
- Meeting on sports nutrition with nutritionist Febo Quercia
- Patronage of the Municipality of Centola
Prices Palinuro Dance 2026
Practical information — Palinuro Dance
Location
Activities are held in Palinuro, a village in the Municipality of Centola (Province of Salerno, Campania), at the Antiquarium Archaeological Museum on Corso Pisacane, in the Ficocella area. The final show, depending on the edition, has been held at the Antiquarium or the "ex Central Park" sports complex on Via Fratelli Capozzoli.
How to get there
- By car: From the A2 Autostrada del Mediterraneo, take the Battipaglia exit and continue on the SS18 towards Vallo della Lucania, then towards Palinuro.
- By train: The reference station is Pisciotta-Palinuro, on the Tyrrhenian line, connected to the village by bus and taxi.
- By plane: The nearest airport is Naples-Capodichino, approximately two and a half hours away by car.
Registration and contacts
Registration for courses is handled by the organizers, the Crown Ballet School of Naples: phone +39 349 3161332, email [email protected]. Updates on dates, instructors, and the final evening are published on the Facebook page "Palinuro DANZA Festival".
Tips
The festival takes place in the first week of July, when Palinuro is already in peak season: it is advisable to book accommodation well in advance. For the evening show, which is outdoors and by the sea, a light jacket is recommended.
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Where does it take place — Palinuro Dance
Antiquarium Museum Archeologico di Palinuro
Corso Pisacane, località Ficocella, 84051 Centola