Writing in residence

International call open to young under-30 graduates from all over the world with an excellent knowledge of spoken and written Italian language, researchers in Dance, to write critical texts that will be collected in a publication of la Biennale di Venezia.

Research will be on the ground: the selected candidates will be invite to participate to the 20^th International Festival of Contemporary Dance and the conversations with artists.

On the basis of the theme proposed by the Director of the Dance Department, Wayne McGregor, the selected candidates will carry out in the Archives, guided by tutor, a search for sources and historical references, to write a text in Italian of a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 15 pages, from its first draft to the printed version.

A maximum of 4 candidates will be selected.

Three phases of research and activities are planned in Venice in the Biennale venues (Ca’ Giustinian, Arsenale, Giardini, Biennale Library at Giardini, Historical Archives at Vega)

Thanks to Swiss Seaside Foundation.

TITLE
Time Does Not Exist

THEME
The dazzling physicist Carlo Rovelli, known for his work in quantum gravity and the philosophy of science, argues that time, as we understand it, does not exist in the conventional sense. His views challenge the traditional perception of time as a continuous, flowing entity and instead suggest that time is deeply intertwined with the fabric of physics and our understanding of the universe. Rovelli’s relational theory views time not as an absolute dimension but as a relationship between events, emerging from interactions among systems. Our perception of time, he argues, is subjective, influenced by cognitive processes, and at the quantum level, the traditional concept can break down totally. Time is a product of changing relationships and states, not a fundamental aspect of reality, inviting a profound rethinking of how we conceptualise time.

Rovelli’s ideas on the non-linearity and multiplicity of time have been at the forefront of my mind as I immerse myself in the history of the Biennale Danza Festival, which will mark its twentieth ‘official’ birthday in 2026. Systematically and chronologically revisiting the legacy, I reach back into the archive, attempting to rewind and reflect, extracting from history the figures, facts, and narratives of the past. An ephemeral jigsaw emerges, offering only a shadow of the embodied experiences of yesterday, but nonetheless one that I am grateful to touch. Again and again, the dancers, the choreographies, the concepts, the photographs, the artefacts, the knowledge, the intelligence coalesce, overlap, and superimpose—sometimes in parallel journeys, years and artists apart, and at other times in tree-like branching, rivers of imagination and innovation carving their own paths in the wilderness—out of time and out of sync with everything that surrounds it. This living archive creates a non-manifest body with a consciousness beyond—much wider than our self.   

Then I realise that “Time does not exist” – and in some fundamental way, dance artists have always understood this, inviting us to feel a sense of wonder and curiosity about the nature of reality. […]

Wayne McGregor

With these intentions participants will attend all the performances and scheduled activities of the Festival. By watching the performances and meeting the artists involved in the festival, participants will identify key themes to base their essays, which they will then explore in greater depth using references and historical context drawn from the rich archive of ASAC materials.

Tutor: Elisa Guzzo Vaccarino
Elisa Guzzo Vaccarino, graduated in philosophy, trained in academic and contemporary dance, has been involved in ballet and dance for decades writing in newspapers, currently “QN”, periodicals and magazines, “Ballet2000”, “Classic Voice”, “Fyinpaper” online; signs essays for Opera Foundations and theaters, for DVD booklets, art catalogs; was a consultant for Torino Danza from 1987 to 1997, for the Carla Fendi Prize in Spoleto and for the Armonie d'Arte festival in Calabria; collaborates with the Biennale Danza and the ASAC archive of Venice (Iconoclasts exhibition)  and also with ERT, Emilia Romagna Theatre. He has published books on Béjart, Kylián, Bausch, Balanchine, Cunningham, Forsythe, futurist and globalized dance, Cuba and tango, speaking on the radio, RAI 3, making television programs on cultural satellite channels (Tele + 3, Rai Sat Show, Rai 5) and curating exhibitions such as La Danza delle Avanguardie at the MART museum in Rovereto-Trento. She has taught History and Aesthetics of Dance at the University of Bologna and Turin, and at the La Scala dance school; and is now part member of Consiglio Superiore dello Spettacolo at Ministero della Cultura Italiano.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

First phase - from 16 July 2026 to 2 August 2026
Participation in the activities scheduled within the 20^th International Festival of Contemporary Dance (18 days) and beginning of research activities at the Historical Archive and Library guided by the tutor.

Second phase - from 28 September 2026 to 2 October 2026
Specific research activities at the Historical Archive and Library guided by the tutor;
Deadline for sending the first draft of the text: 18 October 2026

Third phase – from 26 October 2026 to 30 October 2026
Analysis and in-depth study of the first draft of the text with the tutor at the Historical Archive and the Library;
The deadline for sending the final text is 30 November 2026.

Conditions and rules of participation
The international call is open to young under-30 graduates from all over the world with an excellent knowledge of spoken and written Italian language.

Attendance for the whole programme is mandatory for participation in the project.

A maximum of 4 candidates will be selected.

The selected participants will be hosted in shared apartments provided by la Biennale di Venezia.
La Biennale di Venezia will also provide participants with tickets for local public transport and meals (lunches).

Selected participants will be required to pay a registration fee in the amount of € 80.00 (VAT included, non-refundable), to be paid exclusively by credit card.

Note: Applications will not be accepted from candidates selected in previous Biennale College ASAC - Writing in Residency editions.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Documentation
The documentation - which must be sent in Italian exclusively via the online form - consists of:

a) Curriculum vitae - please also specify:
a.1) Bachelor's/Master's degree or equivalent degree
a.2) thesis degree title, course of study
a.3) knowledge of spoken and written Italian - minimum required level C1
a.4) other languages known and level

b) submission of 2 texts
1 - cover letter (maximum length 2 pages)
2 - an essay, including bibliographical references, on a contemporary dance show seen (maximum length 2 pages)

Application form

La Biennale di Venezia reserves the right in any case to modify, cancel or interrupt the initiative described above, in that the announcement or the selection do not constitute a binding contract for the same, nor do they entail the right to the reimbursement of any expense other than those specified above.

The integral acceptance of the conditions of the Biennale College ASAC – Writing in residency - Dance call makes the application eligible.

Applications open on May 14^th 2026
Applications deadline May 31^st 2026