From July 5 to 8, 2026, the Apennine Peninsula hosted the brightest and sunniest summer celebration of talent. This year, the grand dual competition «Dancing Italy» and «Sun of Italy» unfolded across two nations simultaneously — in welcoming Italy (Rimini) and the ancient Republic of San Marino.
This season was an absolute triumph, entering the history books as the largest dance and vocal event under the Fiestalonia Milenio brand in recent years!
A Symbol of Courage and a 20-Year Legacy of Success
Inspiring words resonated from the stage, setting the emotional tone for the entire event:
«Dancing Italy has brought together almost 20 countries from around the world, all on one stage here in the beautiful Republic of San Marino — the tiny country completely surrounded by Italy. And somehow, it reminds me of a young dancer standing in the middle of a huge stage: small in size, perhaps… but full of confidence, courage, and enormous dreams.
And speaking of dreams… Can you imagine that the very first Fiestalonia Milenio festival in Italy took place back in 2006? That was 20 years ago! Twenty years of discovering talent… Twenty years of unforgettable performances… Twenty years of bringing people together through art. Back then, only a handful of countries came together to celebrate creativity. Today, exactly twenty years later… we are welcoming almost 20 countries onto this very stage. Twenty years… twenty countries… I don’t know about you… but I don’t think that’s a coincidence! Ladies and gentlemen, let the journey begin!»
Regional Support and Distinguished Guests
In 2026, the festival took place with the prestigious official support of the Emilia-Romagna Regional Administration.
Before the official ceremony began, a very special guest was welcomed to the stage — Isabella Benedettini, Cultural Representative of the Emilia-Romagna Regional Administration. Present to support and promote the development of creativity, culture, and the performing arts throughout the region, her presence was a true honor for all organizers and participants.
More Than a Competition: Cultural Immersion
Fiestalonia festivals are never just a single day of performing on a big stage; they offer a deep immersion into the local culture, cuisine, centuries-old traditions, and vibrant intercultural exchange between participants and the host nation. As part of Fiestalonia’s curated travel and excursion packages, participants explored the historic splendor of Venice, Rome, Bologna, Florence, and the medieval fortresses of San Marino.
A Spectacular Day at Teatro Nuovo
The main competition days of «Dancing Italy» and «Sun of Italy» took place on July 6 on the iconic stage of Teatro Nuovo in San Marino. The anniversary showcase was hosted by the charismatic Italian singer, musician, and showman Roberto Serafini.
Vocal Category & Fine Art Exhibition
The vocal ensembles and soloists were the first to take the stage for warm-ups and sound checks. Their competition program spanned an extraordinary musical spectrum, ranging from contemporary pop hits to complex national folk compositions.
The vocal performances were evaluated by an esteemed international jury:
- Laura Mungherli — Music performer, Founder and Artistic Director of Center Stage, certified Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) teacher, and Master of Arts. Having directed over 20 professional productions, she masterfully combines classical excellence with a contemporary artistic vision.
- Brian Boccuni — Highly talented Italian musical theatre performer, singer, and vocal coach who has starred in acclaimed productions such as Chicago, Carousel, Jersey Boys, and Next to Normal.
- Susanna Polzoni — Versatile performer appearing on renowned theater stages in Italy and abroad, respected jury member, masterclass presenter, singer, multi-instrumentalist, actress, director, choir conductor, and composer.
- David Dzhaparidze — President and founder of the Spanish festival committee Fiestalonia Milenio, Director of Fiestalonia International Center in London, and jury member of prestigious global competitions.
Simultaneously, the theater foyer hosted an inspiring exhibition featuring fine art by Bulgarian painters, displaying a delicate mastery of color, rich national motifs, and contemporary graphics.
The «Dancing Italy» Choreographic Marathon
The long-awaited and most dynamic event of the day was the dance category. Over 20 ensembles and soloists competed for the coveted crystal trophies.
The geography of the contestants spanned from Eastern Vietnam to the West Coast of the USA: USA, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, Germany, UAE, Hungary, Mexico, Cyprus, Spain, India, Romania, Vietnam, Lithuania, Belgium, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Poland, alongside several neutral participants.
Dancers spent over 6 hours on stage, competing across multiple dance genres (classical ballet, modern/jazz, street dance, folk) and diverse age categories.
The choreographic panel featured distinguished international dance figures:
- Karina Terán (USA) — Dancer, choreographer, and educator with an MFA in Dance from Hunter College in New York, experienced in creating modern works combining strong technique with expressive choreography.
- Diego Cardelli (Italy) — Ballet dancer, teacher, graduate of the English National Ballet School in London, former international soloist, and holder of the prestigious Enrico Cecchetti Diploma.
- Laura Mungherli (Italy) — Certified classical dance teacher (RAD, London) and Maestro d’Arte specializing in Animated Design.
- David Dzhaparidze — Jury President.
Educational Masterclass: Stage Readiness
Following the high-energy competitive viewings, dancers took part in an exclusive educational session. Jury member Karina Terán (USA) conducted her signature masterclass: «Performance Ready: A Progressive Stage Warm-Up for Dancers.»
In a short amount of time, participants learned advanced dynamic muscle warm-up techniques, breath control methods under intense physical execution, and elements of modern contemporary floor work to enhance alignment and core stability.
Grand Prix Triumph
The evening concluded with a grand Award Ceremony. By decision of the expert jury, the highest honor of the competition — the Grand Prix — was awarded to two outstanding acts who achieved flawless scores:
🏆 SOLO GRAND PRIX: Nicole Borovikov (USA) for her stunning performance of «War of Hearts».
🏆 GROUP GRAND PRIX: The ensemble AUDREY ADB DANSE (Belgium), choreographed by Audrey Deblinte, who earned a perfect score of 100 out of 100 points for their jazz-modern routine «Hero».
Full competition score sheets and final result protocols are available in the attached documents.
Photo report of the conests
See You Next Year!
The anniversary edition of «Dancing Italy» and «Sun of Italy» 2026 introduced countless new talents, strengthened international friendships, and proved once again that art transcends all borders.
The Fiestalonia Milenio organizing committee expresses its sincere gratitude to the Emilia-Romagna Regional Administration, all participants, and their dedicated teachers. The stages of San Marino and Italy are already preparing for new milestones — see you in 2027!