Rieti Danza Estate
Three days of workshops, masterclasses, and an international competition at the Teatro Flavio Vespasiano
About Rieti Danza Estate
An international event in the heart of Sabina
Rieti Danza Estate is the most important dance event in the Sabina capital and a key fixture in the Italian choreographic calendar. It takes place every year at the end of June in the Teatro Flavio Vespasiano, a 19th-century jewel in the historic center of Rieti, in the Lazio region. It serves as the cornerstone of the Rieti City of Dance project, which over the years has built a recognizable identity for the city tied to the art of Terpsichore.
Workshops, masterclasses, and competition
The proven format spans three full days. Mornings and afternoons are dedicated to workshops and masterclasses in classical and modern-contemporary dance, open to all levels and led by the same masters who serve on the judging panel. In parallel, the competition takes place, featuring a wide range of categories:
- Soloists (classical/neoclassical and modern/contemporary), divided into four age groups: preparatory (up to 10 years), children (up to 13), juniors (up to 16), and seniors (17 and older)
- Groups in the same disciplines and age groups
- Character dance groups, divided into under 14 and over 15
- Pas de deux, classical and contemporary, with no age limit
Optional stage rehearsals kick off the event; the central day is reserved for modern and contemporary performances and awards, while the final day hosts the classical, neoclassical, and character dance competition with the final prize-giving ceremony.
An international-level jury
The faculty and judging panel consist of professionals from leading opera houses and companies. Notable names from recent editions include Damiano Mongelli, Deputy Director of the Rome Opera House School of Dance, Juan Carlos Ajenjo Rodríguez from the Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Mariemma in Madrid, Taulant Shehu, Artistic Director and choreographer of Ballet Hagen in Germany, Bernard Shehu, Michael Fuscaldo, and Martina La Ragione.
Prizes that open doors
In Rieti, opportunities matter more than rankings. The jury awards discretionary scholarships for the Rome Opera House School of Dance and the Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Mariemma, as well as invitations to the European semi-finals of the Youth Grand Prix, with which Rieti City of Dance has established a global partnership. These are joined by certificates, professional internships, and prizes from industry partners. A particularly heartfelt moment is the Piero Fasciolo Gala, dedicated to the competition's founder and reserved for local schools from the Rieti area.
Numbers and impact on the city
With approximately 900 daily attendees including competitors, teachers, and chaperones, the event has a significant tourist and economic impact on the capital of the province of Rieti: hotels, restaurants, and historic center businesses experience one of their busiest periods of the summer. The organizational management is led by Luna Ronchi and Simone Lolli, with primary support from the Fondazione Varrone – Cassa di Risparmio di Rieti, alongside the Municipality of Rieti, the Fondazione Flavio Vespasiano, the Lions Club, and the Rotary Club.
Why it's worth the trip
Even for those not participating in the competition, Rieti Danza Estate is an opportunity to witness three days of high-level dance for free or at a low cost in a historic venue with excellent acoustics. It is also a chance to discover a city often overlooked by tourist circuits: the geographical center of Italy, with its Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, medieval undergrounds, and the nearby Valle Santa reatina, linked to the memory of Saint Francis.
Rieti Danza Estate — edition 2026
Thirteenth edition
From June 26 to 28, 2026, the Teatro Flavio Vespasiano in Rieti hosted the 13th edition of Rieti Danza Estate, a key event of the Rieti City of Dance project. Participating schools arrived from all over Italy and several foreign countries.
Structure
The first day was dedicated to classical and modern-contemporary masterclasses, with optional stage rehearsals for competitors. On June 27, the modern and contemporary section performances and awards took place; June 28 was dedicated to classical, neoclassical, and character dance, with the final proclamation of the winners.
Jury and prizes
The committee brought together Damiano Mongelli (Rome Opera House), Juan Carlos Ajenjo Rodríguez (Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Mariemma, Madrid), Taulant Shehu (Ballet Hagen, Germany), Bernard Shehu, Michael Fuscaldo, and Martina La Ragione. Awards included scholarships for the Rome Opera House School of Dance and the Mariemma Conservatory, invitations to the European semi-finals of the Youth Grand Prix, an ADI Alicante Dance International scholarship, and the special Piero Fasciolo award.
The Piero Fasciolo Gala
The Gala dedicated to the competition's founder was highly attended, with seven local schools from the Rieti area performing on stage. Notable results included ASD Cygni Arades winning first prize in the children's contemporary groups with "Embruxo", third place in the children's contemporary solo, and second prize in the preparatory classical groups.
Programme Rieti Danza Estate 2026
Friday, June 26
- Classical dance workshops and masterclasses
- Modern and contemporary dance workshops and masterclasses
- Optional stage rehearsals for competitors
Saturday, June 27
- Morning and afternoon masterclasses
- Competition: modern and contemporary section performances (soloists, pas de deux, groups)
- Modern and contemporary section awards
Sunday, June 28
- Final masterclasses
- Competition: classical, neoclassical, and character dance performances
- Final awards ceremony and scholarship distribution
- Piero Fasciolo Gala with local schools from the Rieti area
Competition categories
- Soloists (classical/neoclassical and modern/contemporary): preparatory (up to 10 years), children (up to 13), juniors (up to 16), seniors (17 and older)
- Groups in the same disciplines and age groups
- Character dance groups: under 14 and over 15
- Classical and contemporary pas de deux, no age limit
Highlights Rieti Danza Estate 2026
- 13th edition at the Teatro Flavio Vespasiano, with approx. 900 daily attendees
- International jury: Damiano Mongelli, Juan Carlos Ajenjo Rodríguez, Taulant Shehu, Bernard Shehu, Michael Fuscaldo, Martina La Ragione
- Scholarships for the Rome Opera House School of Dance and the Real Conservatorio Mariemma in Madrid
- Invitations to the European semi-finals of the Youth Grand Prix
- Prizes from partner brands So Dança, Tagga, Tosti, and Ballettosa
- Piero Fasciolo Gala with seven local schools
Prices Rieti Danza Estate 2026
Practical information — Rieti Danza Estate
Where
Teatro Flavio Vespasiano, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi 62, 02100 Rieti (RI), in the heart of the historic center.
How to get there
By car: from the A1 motorway, take the Orte exit, then the Rieti-Terni highway; from Rome via the SS4 Salaria (approx. 1 hour 30 minutes). Paid and free parking are available a few minutes' walk from the theater.
By train: Rieti station on the Terni-L'Aquila-Sulmona line, about a 15-minute walk from the theater.
By bus: daily Cotral connections from Rome (Piazzale Tiburtina).
By plane: Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino airports, about two hours away.
Registration and costs
Registration for the competition and workshops usually opens on May 1st and closes on May 31st, subject to availability. Fees, regulations, and forms are published on the official website rietidanzaestate.it, under the Competition and Workshop sections.
Tips
This period sees high hotel demand in the city: it is advisable to book well in advance. The official website lists partner accommodations for participants and their companions.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Rieti Danza Estate
Teatro Flavio Vespasiano
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi 62, 02100 Rieti