RILKE PROJECT

The Network selected the Rilke Project (working title) for the strength and maturity of the choreographic research. The project stands out for its distinctive dance language, grounded in physical intensity, repetition, and a deep exploration of the body as a site of rhythm and perception. Rooted in the landscapes of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the work embodies the principle of “taking up the region to take on the field,” activating natural environments as spaces for artistic creation. By connecting territory, cultural heritage, and contemporary dance practice, the project opens new ways of engaging with landscape, history, and audience. Through this approach, the Rilke Project reflects the values of artistic excellence, regional dialogue, and contemporary relevance cultivated by the Pan Adria Network.

Pablo Girolami is an Italian-Spanish choreographer trained at the Tanz Akademie Zürich. He later danced with the Hessisches Staatsballett Wiesbaden/Darmstadt and with Spellbound Contemporary Ballet, collaborating with choreographers such as Wayne McGregor, Hofesh Shechter and Marcos Morau. He currently works as a freelance choreographer and is the artistic director of IVONA, and since 2024 he has also served as the artistic director of the Fagagna Dance Festival. The festival, organised in collaboration with the Ente Regionale Teatrale del Friuli Venezia Giulia, unfolds over several days dedicated to bringing together performances, workshops and encounters with artists under 35 from the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italy and abroad.

IVONA is a contemporary dance company founded by Girolami in 2019 and developed within HOUSE OF IVONA, a cultural association based in Fagagna (Udine) established in 2021 as a platform for artistic collaboration and research. Bringing together a community of artists and collaborators, the project considers artistic languages—especially dance—as a resilient field for imagining future forms of collective life. Nature is a central source of inspiration for IVONA, whose work explores the concept of resilience through movement, translating the adaptability and vitality of natural processes into choreographic form. The company is shaped by an inclusive and diverse artistic environment, strongly influenced by LGBTQIA+ perspectives, and engages audiences across generations. Alongside its own productions, House of IVONA collaborates with associated artists and supports emerging voices such as Collettivo Nanouk, Sara Ariotti and Ona Cros.