Emerging Choreographer Platform
Thank you to everyone who applied to DI’S 2025 NEXT GEN: Emerging Choreographer Platform in Lucca, Italy. We received 90 creative and inspiring applications from choreographers from around the world for our inaugural year offering this program at Dance Italia.
DI is committed to fostering an inclusive, intimate, and supportive environment, empowering the next generation of movement-based artists through meaningful resources and experiences.
The program’s offerings, designed to support choreographers’ creative processes, include independent research space, collaborative rehearsal opportunities, and mentorship. By providing access to versatile dancers and valuable resources, DI’s Emerging Choreographer Platform aims to spotlight new voices in dance and choreography.
The Emerging Choreographer Platform by Dance Italia provides selected choreographers with:
20 hours of Studio Time at Motore592
Access to talented and accomplished international Dancers
A chance to present their work at a Public Performance during Dance Italia's summer programming
A Professional Video recording of the work created
Free access to DI workshops, providing additional learning and networking opportunities.
Housing in a B&B or shared apartment within 30 min walking distance to Motore592.
A 200€ Stipend
Our panelists upheld the highest standards of fairness and integrity, ensuring an unbiased adjudication process. They abstained from voting on dancers or choreographers with whom they had personal or professional relationships, disclosing any potential conflicts to organizers. This commitment ensured that all decisions were based solely on merit and competition criteria, maintaining an equitable and transparent evaluation process.
Next Gen 25 Panelists
Bianca Cosentino is a finance professional with expertise in wealth management and dance. As a Capital Markets Associate at Morgan Stanley, she collaborates with top global and domestic banks to develop investment products utilizing derivatives for retail and institutional clients. Bianca holds a BFA dual major in economics and dance from The Ailey School/Fordham University, blending analytical skills with creativity. She has performed with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Company during their 2020 winter season in Memoria and serves as a board member for Dance Italia/Stefanie Nelson Dance Group. Outside of work, she enjoys attending art performances, taking dance classes, and spending time with family and friends.
Bianca Cosentino
Danielle Russo’s work has been presented nationally at venues including Jacob’s Pillow, Lincoln Center, and The Yard, and internationally across Europe, North America, and Asia. Residency and fellowship awards include C.N.N. - Ballet de Lorraine (FR), Danscentrum Jette (BE), Nadine Laboratory for the Contemporary Arts (BE), New York Community Trust (US), Independent Artists Initiative WUK (AT), and Springboard Danse Montréal (CA) among others. A multi-year grant recipient from the NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs, Dance/NYC, and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, her work has been featured at Armory Arts Week, Governors Island, and Solange Knowles’s Saint Heron. Russo danced with The Metropolitan Opera for several seasons and is currently Assistant Professor of the Practice of Dance & Critical Dance Studies at Cornell University, with prior faculty positions at NYU Tisch, SUNY Purchase, and The Joffrey Ballet School.
Danielle Russo
Photo: Andrea Macchia
Elisa D’Amico works in the field of performing arts and dance. She navigates research and making, moving in between physical practices, writing and scores, often in close collaboration with Francesco Dalmasso. Their collaborative artistic practice interweaves research, creation and curatorial practices. As a dancer she collaborates with independent choreographers, companies, visual artists in Italy and Europe. Over the years she has encountered the work of, among others, Annika Pannitto, Mirko Guido, Chrysanthi Badeka, Cie La Bagarre_Erika Di Crescenzo, Pablo Bronstein, Aline Nari/Aldes, Roberto Castello/Aldes, Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup, De Stilte, Lucia Guarino/Nexus. Graduated from ArtEZ University of the Arts (NL) with a Minor in Maker, a two-year program focused on artistic research, she is part of the project shared training torino and works as Development Associate of Dance Italia. Since 2020, she has been the co-curator of Workspace Ricerca X_research & dramaturgy.
Elisa D’Amico
Ty Lewis is a movement artist, choreographer, teacher, scholar, and activist, born and raised in Houston, TX, and currently resides in Urbana, Illinois. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Dance from Sam Houston State University and a Master's Degree in Dance with a concentration in performance, choreography, somatic practices, and interdisciplinary studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In her choreographic research, Ty utilizes rhythm to develop structure, explore abstract and literal concepts, orchestrate embodiment, and develop immersive experiences for the audience. As Ty continues to expand on her movement research she maintains a feminist perspective open to the diverse understanding of dance, movement, the arts, and life.
Ty’esha Lewis
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