From 28th of April to 3rd of May 2025, the Swedish based contemporary dance company ilDance visited Cagliari, Pula, and San Sperate (Sardinia) for a co-creation workshop within the Dancing Histor(y)ies project.

The residency was organized by Assoenti Locali, with the support of Sardegna Teatro, Is Mascareddas, Centro Culturale Vitanova, Sala Pittaluga, Pinuccio Sciola Museum, Selargius Folk Group, and local cultural associations.

The program began with historical reenactments of the 1794 uprising and immersive participation in Sa Die de Sa Sardinia traditions, followed by shared meals and reflection moments. Over the following days, ilDance experienced the Saint Efisio celebrations—including the dressing ceremony of the statue, the grand festival in Via Roma, and encounters with folk groups and traditional costumes from across the island. These events offered a profound insight into Sardinian cultural identity, ritual, and faith.

The residency also included site visits, such as the archaeological area of Nora, where the company explored local history and legends, and the Pinuccio Sciola “Sound Garden” Museum in San Sperate, which revealed the sonic dimensions of prehistoric-inspired sculpture. Workshops with young dancers and volunteers at Sala Pittaluga provided space for creative exchange through movement and text, while technical meetings prepared the ground for festival collaboration.

The journey concluded with a meeting with Selargius Folk Group to discover traditional music and dance, followed by a powerful torchlight procession and fireworks accompanying the statue of Saint Efisio from Nora to Pula, blending heritage, ritual, and performance in a shared act of memory and community.

Through these encounters, ilDance intertwined living traditions, archaeological heritage, and contemporary dance practice, creating a co-creation process rooted in Sardinia’s unique history and collective spirit.