Taratatà – Memories in Motion

Contemporary choreographic creation inspired by the sword dance of Casteltermini

As part of the Millennium 2027 – European Year of the Normans, an original choreographic creation inspired by the Taratatà of Casteltermini will be realized, one of the oldest and most evocative events of Sicilian popular tradition, characterized by the famous sword dance and recognized as one of the main intangible heritages of the island.

The project will be entrusted to the duo Naninananna, formed by Maryfé Singy and Myriam Jarmache, artists active in the fields of dance, performance, and vocal research, within the company of French choreographer François Chaignaud, a key figure in the contemporary European choreographic scene.

The creation will take shape through a research and artistic residency pathway that will develop between Palermo, Catania, and Casteltermini, encouraging direct encounters with local communities, dancers, musicians, singers, and bearers of the Taratatà tradition. This fieldwork will allow the artists to deepen the ritual, symbolic, and performative aspects of the festival, reinterpreting them through the language of contemporary dance and interdisciplinary creation.

Particular attention will be given to the sword dance, a ritual gesture that recalls ancient chivalric traditions and represents one of the most identifying elements of the celebration. Through the dialogue between movement, song, and collective memory, the project aims to explore the relationship between intangible heritage and contemporary creation, highlighting the ability of popular traditions to continue generating new artistic forms and narratives.

The residency will conclude with a public presentation in Sicily and with the participation of the artists in the Taratatà Festival 2027, scheduled for the last Sunday of May in Casteltermini. This moment will represent an important opportunity for encounter between contemporary artistic research and popular tradition, fostering dialogue between local communities, international artists, and the audience.

Through the comparison between Sicilian culture and the sensibility of a European company of recognized prestige, the project will contribute to enhancing the intangible heritage linked to the Norman history of Sicily, strengthening the goals of Millennium 2027 for promoting cultural dialogue, artistic mobility, and cooperation among European territories.

Practical information

For everyone

Paid

Contacts

Cooperation France / Italy

Partnership François Chaignaud Company - Roberto Zappalà Company - Tataratà Cultural Folklore Association