The Lugano Dance Project at Franklin University Switzerland brings students into direct dialogue with the world of professional performance.
Through masterclasses, performances, and collaborations with leading international artists and institutions, students explore movement as a form of expression, cultural inquiry, and interdisciplinary learning. Developed in partnership with LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura and made possible through the generous support of the KHR McNeely Family Foundation, the project connects the classroom to real-world artistic practice.
The experience culminates in the Lugano Dance Project Festival, where students step into active roles within a major cultural event.
How Students Engage
The Lugano Dance Project offers a dynamic pathway that extends learning beyond the classroom. Students:
- Participate in hands-on masterclasses across diverse movement traditions
- Gain behind-the-scenes access to rehearsals and performances
- Engage with internationally renowned artists and companies
- Connect performance to academic study through guided reflection and discussion
- Take part in internships during the Lugano Dance Project Festival
Through these experiences, students develop both creative and critical skills while gaining insight into the global cultural landscape.
Highlights from 2025-2026
Recent activities reflect the project’s interdisciplinary and international scope:
- Masterclasses in flamenco and bachata, exploring movement as storytelling, rhythm, and human connection
- Rehearsal visits at Teatro alla Scala (Milan), offering rare insight into professional production and choreography
- Performances by leading ensembles, including the São Paulo Dance Company and Akram Khan Company
- Interdisciplinary workshops with Maria Bonzanigo, examining the relationship between dance, theater, and music
- A study trip to New York, engaging with contemporary performance and visiting the Whitney Biennial
Each experience builds on the next, allowing students to deepen their understanding of performance across cultural and artistic contexts.
Lugano Dance Project Festival
The annual Lugano Dance Project Festival is the culmination of the program’s academic and artistic journey, taking place from June 10 to 14, 2026. Through the INT 498 internship course, students take on active roles in areas such as marketing, education, and communications, working alongside professionals within an international festival environment. This hybrid academic and pre-professional experience reflects Franklin’s commitment to experiential learning, equipping students with practical skills and preparing them for careers in the cultural and creative industries.
FACULTY LEADERSHIP
AND GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
The project is led by Professor Hrisanta Trebici Marin (Adjunct Professor of Music History) and Professor Fabio Ferrari (Associate Professor of Italian and Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies), whose ongoing research and international engagement ensure that the program remains connected to contemporary artistic practice. Their work, ranging from collaborations with global performance initiatives to participation in major exhibitions and festivals, directly informs the student experience and keeps the curriculum aligned with current developments in the arts.
From the left: Fabio Ferrari, Maria Bonzanigo, Hrisanta Trebici Marin, Kevin McNeely.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW: 2025 - 2026 ACTIVITIES
2025
- Flamenco Masterclass (La Malita) | Introduction to flamenco as embodied storytelling, focusing on rhythm, footwork, and expressive gesture
- Quixotadas – Interdisciplinary Concert (LAC Lugano) | Performance integrating literature, music, and movement, fostering an immersive and participatory artistic experience
- Bachata Masterclass | Exploration of partner-based movement, emphasizing connection, timing, and non-verbal communication
- Ballet Rehearsals – Teatro alla Scala (Milan) | Observation of Études, Petite Mort, and Boléro, offering insight into professional rehearsal processes and choreographic language
- Awakening / Risveglio – Masterclass (Maria Bonzanigo, LAC Teatrostudio, 22 November) | Foundational workshop exploring space and time as core elements of movement and scenic awareness
- São Paulo Dance Company (LAC Lugano) | Contemporary performance examining identity, transformation, and ensemble dynamics
- Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra (LAC Lugano) | Symphonic concert featuring The Rite of Spring, highlighting rhythm, structure, and the relationship between music and movement
2026
- Mirage – Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève (LAC Lugano) | Interdisciplinary performance combining choreography and visual art to explore perception, illusion, and transformation
- Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, conducted by Zubin Mehta (LAC Lugano) | Performance of Mozart’s final symphonies, highlighting musical structure, phrasing, and expressive depth in relation to movement
- Thikra: Night of Remembering – Akram Khan Company (LAC Lugano) | Contemporary work rooted in ritual and memory, bridging tradition and innovation through global movement vocabularies
- Turandot – Teatro alla Scala (Milan) | Rehearsal observation of a major operatic production integrating music, staging, and movement
- Sul Teatro della Carezza – Masterclass Series (Maria Bonzanigo, 11 April, 25 April, 2 May) | Interdisciplinary workshops focusing on transformation, energy, and the relationship between dance, theater, and music
Spring 2026 – New York Study Trip
- Dance Reflections – Van Cleef & Arpels Festival | Engagement with contemporary choreography
- Whitney Biennial – Private Curatorial Tour | Exploration of contemporary art and curatorial practice
- Weekly Yoga Sessions (Fall & Spring Semesters - on campus) | Community well-being initiative supporting physical awareness and engagement
- Lugano Dance Project Festival (3rd Edition) | Culminating event with student internships (INT 498) in marketing, education, and communications
Movement, Community, and Well-BeingIn addition to its academic and artistic components, the Lugano Dance Project contributes to Franklin’s commitment to community well-being. Weekly yoga sessions, offered throughout the academic year to students, faculty, and staff, create a shared space for movement, focus, and connection, reinforcing the relationship between physical practice, awareness, and everyday life. A Living, Evolving ProgramThe Lugano Dance Project reflects Franklin University Switzerland’s broader mission: to combine academic rigor with experiential learning and global engagement. By bringing students into direct contact with artists, institutions, and performances across cultural contexts, the program creates a space where learning is not only observed but lived. |
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MADE POSSIBLE BY
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Special Thanks to the KHR McNeely Family Foundation, Kevin, Rosemary, and Hannah Rose McNeely
In collaboration with
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