Emerging from time Hypothesis of dance in ancient Rome

A performance not to be missed is the dance show staged at the Lido di Ostia Theater, by the choreographer Anna Cirigliano, illustrating the research work of experimental archeology on dance in ancient Rome.

The dances performed by the dancers of the Choros school and company, established in 1994 by Anna Cirigliano herself, represent in fact a hypothesis of ancient dance and arise from the collaboration with the musical groups Synaulia and Ludi Scaenici; images, iconographies, mosaics, paintings in archaeological sites and museums, are the sources of inspiration for Anna Cirigliano's choreographies.

From reconstructions and choreutic hypotheses based on images that come to us from the past and from sources, we know that ancient dancers danced in rites, shows or were requested for parties and banquets. They are depicted in motion and using small percussion instruments, such as cymbals, drums or rattlesnakes. Thanks to the large number of representations, it was possible to carry out an experimental reconstruction, allowing them to be superimposed as in a film sequence. From the studies on the dance hypotheses, it also emerged that the ancient Greek and Italian folk tradition, which has come down to us through the centuries, had a great influence. Some dances are inspired by the excavations of Ostia Antica (the Theater, the Thermopolium of via di Diana, the Caupona of Alexander and Helix, the Camp of Magna Mater, the Necropolis, the Ostiense Museum where we find a frieze of Athena and a sarcophagus with Bacchic scenes), while others are choreographic reconstructions of feasts, banquets or rites.

Anna Cirigliano graduated from the National Academy of Dance in classical dance in 1990 and in contemporary dance in 2012. She began collaborating in 1997 with the Synaulia musical group, and since 2000 with that of Ludi Scaenici. It avails itself of the collaboration of the dancer Paola Nappi; they perform together in important archaeological sites in Italy and Europe.

Photo credits: courtesy of Lido di Ostia Theater official site