The FUS-LAC Dance Project aims to bring awareness, appreciation, and the practice of dance to Lugano and further integrate the Franklin community into the city’s thriving art culture. This joint project between Franklin University Switzerland and the Lugano Arte e Cultura (LAC) cultural center allows students, professors, and dance artists to interact in a variety of ways so that they can experience together the wellness benefits, excitement of risk-taking, and conceptual creativity that the moving art form brings. Once an integral part of everyday life, dance has become a language foreign to most of us in the twenty-first century. But at Franklin, it has become a shared language that encourages adventurousness and challenges us to step outside our comfort zones to learn something new. Through interactive workshops, concert events, and choreography sessions, the Dance Project offers a fresh, dance-oriented perspective that allows us to reimagine our personal well-being practices, the momentousness of academic travel, and the connectedness of our human experience despite our individuality.
Dance is the hidden language of the soul - Martha Graham
The purpose of art is higher than art. What we are really interested in are masterpieces of humanity - Alonzo King
The Project
Hear from Hrisanta Trebici Marin, Adjunct Professor of Music History, Professor Fabio Ferrari, Chair of the Academic Division of Arts and Cultures and Associate Professor of Italian and Comparative Literary & Cultural Studies, and Maria Bonzanigo, a renowned composer and choreographer, as they recount their unique experiences and visions for the transformative FUS-LAC Dance Project in Lugano.
Immerse Yourself in Lugano's Thriving Cultural Scene
Unlock unparalleled cultural experiences this Fall Semester of 2023 with Franklin University Switzerland and Lugano Arte e Cultura (LAC)'s ongoing Joint Program. The next exciting chapter, "Learning from the Best - FUS at the LAC," aims to deepen our students' engagement with the vibrant cultural fabric of Lugano.
Monthly Events
Thanks to the generous invitation from Michel Gagnon, General Director of LAC, and Isabella Lenzo, Director of LACedu, our students will have access to a curated series of monthly events. This exceptional lineup includes not just attendance but also intimate conversations and discussions with the featured choreographers and performers.
Thought-Leading Lecture at LAC
Further enhancing the experience, Michel Gagnon will offer a stimulating lecture on 'Cultural Strategies and Horizons.' This enlightening talk will be hosted at Lugano Arte e Cultura (LAC) itself.
AWAKENING - three workshops by Maria Bonzanigo
Maria Bonzanigo, co-founder of the Compagnia Finzi Pasca, composer, and choreographer, is conducting a movement masterclass divided into three workshops between the fall of 2024 and the spring of 2025, exploring the awareness of dance and scenic gesture.
The first workshop focuses on SPACE. Through practical exercises for both group and solo work, participants analyzes the movement of their bodies in relation to themselves, others, and the surrounding environment. The session also includes reflections on natural organization, sensory awareness, and proprioception.
The second workshop focuses on the perception of TIME and its passage, emphasizing rhythm in movement and its intrinsic connection between dance and music. Participants analyze the formal structure of musical pieces in relation to choreographic creation. The first two hours involve physical work, followed by a final hour dedicated to theoretical discussion, collectively reflecting on the practical activities.
The third workshop explores the perception of one's ENERGY, examining how energy influences scenic gestures and its interplay with time and space. The final hour provides an opportunity for in-depth discussions, addressing questions, and delving further into choreographic creation, including useful tools and techniques to develop and refine.
EVENTS AT LAC: SPRING 2025
Franklin students are eligible for discounted tickets to the shows listed below.
January 11 | Semâ
Compagnie Linga | DANCE
The award-winning Compagnie Linga-founded in 1992 by Katarzyna Gdaniec and Marco Cantalupo, who met at Béjart Ballet Lausanne-comes to the LAC for the first time with a work whose title, Semâ, refers to the whirling dance of the whirling dervishes.
January 17 | Recollection of a falling
Forma Mentis / Daughters and Angels / Spellbound Contemporary Ballet / Jacopo Godani / Mauro Astolfi | DANCE
Created to celebrate Spellbound Contemporary Ballet's 30th anniversary, Recollection of a falling is a two-part program featuring the creations of Jacopo Godani, among the names of Italian excellence in the world, and Mauro Astolfi, the company's artistic director as well as a choreographer capable of combining poetry and precision with great skill.
January 23 | Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Lahav | CLASSICAL MUSIC
After the 2022 concert on the podium of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, there is great anticipation for the return to Lugano of the Israeli conductor Lahav Shani, who chooses a fascinating and surprising program, capable of best bringing out all the colors of the Russian soul.
January 28 | La Cetra Barockorchester Basel
Andrea Marcon / Julija Ležneva / Valer Sabadus | CLASSICAL MUSIC
Music that knows how to "speak" to today's audience with the same freshness of the past: here is the magic created at every performance by the baroque orchestra La Cetra of Basel, which during this season celebrates 25 years of activity and finally debuts at the LAC.
February 1-2 | Bye bye baby blackbird / Béjart et nous / Boléro
Béjart Ballet Lausanne| DANCE
Among the foremost exponents of the choreographic world, Béjart Ballet Lausanne returns to the LAC with a program composed of three resounding ballets: Maurice Béjart's famous Boléro, to music by Ravel, Bye bye baby blackbird by Dutch choreographer Joost Vrouenraets, to the notes of Johnny Cash, and Béjart et nous, a medley of the company founder's danced (and musical) repertoire, in tribute to his choreographic art.
February 6 | Stefano Bollani
United Soloists Orchestra / Arseniy Shkaptsov | CLASSICAL MUSIC
Defined by German radio BR-Klassik as a "total artist", pianist-composer Stefano Bollani brings his original interpretative art to Lugano with a program between solo and symphonic which includes the iconic Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin.
February 14 | Jack Quartet
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Stainless technical precision and magnetic passion, nominated for a Grammy three times and with a Michael Jaffee Visionary Award from Chamber Music America as a recent recognition, the New York Jack Quartet is one of the leading ensembles of contemporary music on the international scene, and this year celebrates 20 years of activity.
February 15 | Quatuor Modigliani
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Founded in 2003 and based in Paris, Modigliani is undoubtedly one of the best quartets in the world. Equipped with "balance, transparency, symphonic acumen, stylistic security" (Suddeutsche Zeitung), it is made up of Amaury Coeytaux, Loïc Rio, Laurent Marfaing, and François Kieffer, who play precious instruments from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
February 16 | Carmina Quartett
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Founded in 1984 and immediately gaining international attention, the Carmina Quartet is a Swiss excellence and boasts legends of the caliber of Sandor Végh and Nikolaus Harnoncourt among its musical mentors. To the mastery and experience of its two founding members, first violin Matthias Enderle and viola Wendy Champney, are joined by the enthusiasm of Agata Lazarczyk (second violin) and Chiara Enderle Samatanga (cello), both born in 1992.
February 23 | Ensemble Claudiana
Luca Pianca / Wiener Sängerknaben | CLASSICAL MUSIC
To celebrate the 340th anniversary of Bach's birth, the Claudiana Ensemble directed by Luca Pianca returns to the LAC stage together with the Wiener Sängerknaben, with a program entirely dedicated to the venerated Kantor.
March 14 | Serata dei giovani talenti della Fondazione Gautier Capuçon
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Gautier Capuçon takes the stage together with three young artists from his foundation: the Italian Martina Consonni and the French Sarah Jégou-Sageman and Anna Sypniewski.
March 16 | Superar Suisse
Carlo Taffuri / Pino Raduazzo | CLASSICAL MUSIC
Superar Suisse celebrates ten years of activity in Lugano with the entire European network, amid hopes and difficulties, but with one great certainty: the musical education of young people, if approached with professionalism and energy, can only lead to great results.
March 18 | Hominal / Hominal
Marie-Caroline Hominal / David Hominal | DANCE
French-Swiss choreographer and dancer Marie-Caroline Hominal meets her visual artist brother David Hominal in a four-handed self-portrait-a spark in their fraternal relationship that deliciously escapes any category or expectation.
April 2 | Alexandre Tharaud
CLASSICAL MUSIC
An authentic poet of the piano: in over 25 years of career, Alexandre Tharaud has become an emblem of refined and recognizable keyboard art. For his recital in Lugano, he chooses a seductive program, from Bach to Ravel.
April 13 | Beethoven 7
Sasha Waltz & Guests | DANCE
The dance company Sasha Waltz & Guests, founded by Sasha Waltz and Jochen Sandig in 1993 in Berlin, arrives for the first time at LAC presenting Beethoven 7, a work with a strong visual impact, great scenographic power and emotional intensity, built on the notes of the celebrated Seventh Symphony of the great German composer.
April 30 | Leonidas Kavakos / Enrico Pace
Musica classica Récital | CLASSICAL MUSIC
The excellent chamber duo formed by violinist Leonidas Kavakos and pianist Enrico Pace presents a program that ranges from Schubert's Romanticism to Shostakovich's twentieth century, passing through the beloved Beethoven.
May 7 | Sean Shibe
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Scottish guitarist Sean Shibe (1992), former BBC New Generation Artist, winner of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship 2012, the Royal Philharmonic Society 2018 Young Artist Award and the Leonard Bernstein Award 2022, makes his debut at the LAC.
May 11 | Sol Invictus
Compagnie Hervé Koubi | DANCE
French-Algerian choreographer Hervé Koubi returns to the LAC with his eponymous company that, over the years, has earned an international reputation by combining urban and contemporary dance with powerful imagery in the name of experimentation.
May 14 | Giuseppe Gibboni / Ingmar Lazar
CLASSICAL MUSIC
A child prodigy of extraordinary talent and winner of the 56th Paganini Prize in 2021, Giuseppe Gibboni is a violinist of priceless dexterity. For his debut at the LAC, together with the pianist Ingmar Lazar, he chose a program entirely in the name of Romanticism.
May 21 | Dominik Wagner / Lauma Skride
CLASSICAL MUSIC
A new star in the world of double bass, Dominik Wagner (Vienna, 1997), son of the composer Wolfram, won an ECHO Klassik and today has a substantial discography to his credit. For his debut at LAC, he proposes an unusual and transversal musical journey, from Bach to Gershwin, jumping between different styles and forms, to enhance the timbral and virtuosic possibilities of the double bass.
May 24 | Danza Cieca
Virgilio Sieni | DANCE
Presented as part of the eighth edition of ORME - International Festival of Inclusive Arts of the Italian Swiss, curated by Teatro Danzabile and Inclusione Andicap Ticino, Danza Cieca is a duet performed by Virgilio Sieni, an artist active internationally for leading theatrical institutions, and Giuseppe Comuniello, a blind dancer with whom the Italian choreographer has shared years of research and movement initiation. The performance explores the nature of play as a poetic and creative device that opens and closes each stretch of movement.
May 25 | Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Daniele Gatti / Christian Tetzlaff | CLASSICAL MUSIC
In the concert that sees him return to the LAC at the head of the Orchester de la Suisse Romande, Daniele Gatti decides to pay homage to Beethoven: more than two centuries later, his music can still teach us a lot about the meaning of carrying out a convinced act of artistic resistance in the face of difficulties and atrocities. Christian Tetzlaff's performances, which reach the listener like an enchantment of crystalline beauty, have earned him - among numerous awards - a Gramophone Award.
June 5 | Le Llibre Vermell de Montserrat
Semi-scenic concert | CLASSICAL MUSIC
One of the most important legacies of medieval musical art – the Llibre Vermell de Montserrat, a manuscript preserved since the 14th century at the monastery of Montserrat, near Barcelona – is reinterpreted and updated in a show between antiquity and the present that restores the eternal relevance of spiritual mystery.
June 16 | Philharmonia Orchestra
Santtu-Matias Rouvali / Nikolai Lugansky | CLASSICAL MUSIC
The Philharmonia Orchestra – a legendary London team founded 80 years ago by Walter Legge – returns to meet the Lugano audience accompanied by its main conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali, one of the most interesting and appreciated young musicians on the international scene.
Find more details about the schedule, timing, and prices of the events listed above.
2023-2024 EVENTS
September 15 | Luna Park - Come un giro di giostra by The Finzi Pasca Company
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Finzi Pasca Company with "Luna Park", an immersive theatrical journey. Experience theater like never before as you're guided through the heart of the show on a carousel-like ride. Dive into the world of theater actors, clowns, and stage machines, surrounded by lights, colors, music, and nostalgia.
October 4 | A Dance with Creation: Michel Gagnon & Rhodnie Désir
On Wednesday, October 4 at 14:00 in the Conference Room 1 of the Lugano Arte e Cultura, delve into the artistic minds of LAC's Director Michel Gagnon and Choreographer Rhodnie Désir. Part of the FUS-LAC Joint Program, this meeting is a unique chance to explore the intricate worlds of direction and dance. Joined by President Samuel Martìn-Barbero, the afternoon promises enriching dialogues and artistic revelations. Franklin students, professors, and staff are invited to this captivating rendezvous.
SEE THE FULL GALLERY
October 6-8 | Real Life - Dance reel with Cristina Kristal Rizzo
Join dance maker Cristina Kristal Rizzo in a workshop during the 32nd FIT International Festival. This event seeks to meld dance and identity, providing an in-depth exploration of somatic practices. It's a fusion of dance and theory, challenging attendees to explore dance as an autonomous medium while deconstructing aesthetic, political, and economic imaginations.
October 11 | The Fairy Queen by Henry Purcell
Experience a reinterpretation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with Mourad Merzouki's choreography set to Purcell's "The Fairy Queen". William Christie leads Les Arts Florissants and Le Jardin des Voix, presenting a Baroque masterpiece. Discover the history of this musical work inspired by Shakespeare, from its inception in 1692 to its rediscovery in the 20th century.
November 21 | Romeo and Juliet - Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo
The renowned Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo returns with their interpretation of "Romeo and Juliet", choreographed by Jean-Christophe Maillot. Delve into a unique rendition of Shakespeare's tale, exploring the perspective of Friar Laurence. Maillot's choreography seamlessly blends classical dance with modern narratives, integrating cinematic techniques for a contemporary experience. The performance promises energy, elegance, and a fresh take on a classic story.
January 25 | West Side Story @ LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura
Broadway's Lonny Price directs the international rendition of "West Side Story" at LAC. Featuring a dynamic cast of 34, Jerome Robbins' choreography, Leonard Bernstein's music, and a 20-member orchestra, the production tells a tragic love story set against the 1950s Upper West Side gang rivalry. With elaborate staging and vibrant costumes, the play embodies a narrative of love, identity, and unity across cultural divides, resonating with over three million viewers globally.
February 2 - 3 | UNITY - Exploring Dance with Maria Bonzanigo
Discover the art of dance with Maria Bonzanigo at the Student Lounge of the McNeely Center of Ideas & Imagination. This workshop, led by the co-founder of Teatro Finzi-Pasca, invites participants to explore the concept of unity through dance. Bonzanigo, known for her global performances, will guide attendees in interpreting balance and equilibrium as metaphors for emotional and physical wellbeing. Professors Ferrari and Marin will assist attendees. No dance experience is required – just bring your curiosity and openness. Dress comfortably and join us for a transformative experience of UNITY.
February 29 | Pina Bausch Company with The Rite of Spring
Franklin University Switzerland students will have the opportunity to experience the powerful 'The Rite of Spring' performed by Pina Bausch Company at LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura. This event provides a chance to witness a seminal work in contemporary dance. There's also the potential opportunity for students to meet with the esteemed choreographers Germaine Acogny and Malou Airaudo, offering a unique insight into the world of professional dance.
March 2 | Genoma Scenico LAB, a movement workshop by Choreographer Nicola Galli
The workshop, held by the choreographer Nicola Galli, leads the participants in a physical training that intertwines several dance and somatic techniques, to then discover the language of the body and explore the techniques of creating a dance performance. Through the use of an original composition method and a playful device inspired by genomic research, participants experience the role of authors and choreographers. The workshop thus stimulates people to activate compositional strategies, learn about the infinite creative possibilities, and perceive the scene as a permeable place where bodies, movement, space, and sound connect.
April 11 | Meet the Choreographer: Maria Bonzanigo
Students have a unique opportunity to engage with Maria Bonzanigo, a versatile and esteemed figure in the world of composition and choreography. Bonzanigo has achieved great success in dance, theater, opera, and significant events, blending music with movement in a harmonious and innovative way. Her collaborations with renowned artists and participation in prestigious events showcase her creative flair and technical expertise. This meeting will provide students with a glimpse into her artistic journey and her influential role in contemporary performing arts. You can find out more about her at the following link.
April 19 and 21 | Contemporary Dance and the Built Environment
Join Sean Henderson's workshop, an opportunity to explore the dynamic interplay between the human body and its surroundings and to be part of a collaborative creation process. Whether you are a novice or an expert, you will learn to warm up physically, generate movement from impulses, and develop an understanding of the environment as a partner. The workshop will span two sessions, featuring practical exercises, thought-provoking presentations, and exciting performances that showcase the integration of dance and architecture. You will also participate in stimulating discussions, sharing reflections on merging performers with their environment to produce site-specific works. The program aims to offer insights into adapting creations to unconventional performance spaces, treating obstacles as opportunities. No prior dance experience is necessary to participate in this workshop.
April 29 | "Dancing Free" documentary screening
Join us for the screening of "Dancing Free," a documentary that explores the creative journeys of three choreographers and the transformative power of dance during the first edition of the LAC Dance Project. The film emphasizes that true perfection lies in the creative process itself. It offers unique insights into the artistic process and encourages viewers to explore their own perceptions of utopia.
A project coordinated by
Professor Hrisanta Trebici Marin
Adjunct Professor, Music History
Professor Fabio Ferrari
Chair of the Academic Division of Arts and Cultures
Associate Professor, Italian and Comparative Literary & Cultural studies
MADE POSSIBLE BY
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The KHR McNeely Family Fund, Kevin, Rosemary, and Hannah Rose McNeely
In collaboration with
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