WDM Italy 2027 – Intensive aerial circus workshop in Castellana Grotte, Italy

From 21 to 23 july 2027

From July 21 to 23, 2027, World Dance Movement (WDM) invites aerial arts enthusiasts and practitioners to Castellana Grotte, Puglia, Italy, for the WDM Italy 2027 Aerial Intensive. Over three days, this international workshop offers a true immersion in the world of aerial circus, with an intensive program dedicated to aerial silks, aerial hoop, aerial straps, aerial hammock, and trapeze.

The Aerial Intensive is designed for children and intermediate practitioners as well as advanced artists. Participants create their own program based on their skill level, preferred disciplines, and desired training intensity. Each session lasts two hours, and various options allow participants to attend one, two, three, or four sessions per day for three days. The most motivated participants can thus benefit from a particularly demanding program, with up to eight hours of daily practice.

The goal of this event goes beyond simply learning aerial moves. The WDM Aerial Intensive is designed as an artistic and technical development experience, allowing participants to work on various aerial apparatus in an international environment, develop their physical abilities, mastery of the apparatus, acrobatic vocabulary, and artistic interpretation. Meeting other practitioners and artists from diverse backgrounds is also an integral part of the World Dance Movement experience.

The courses are held in two locations in Castellana Grotte: the Bellini Artinscena studio, located at Via Serritella 10, and the Pala Valle D'Itria, on Via Sandro Pertini. The detailed course schedule and the precise breakdown of the different disciplines for the 2027 edition are yet to be announced by the organizers.

The workshop is part of a much larger international program dedicated to aerial arts. Participants wishing to extend their experience can arrive as early as July 19, 2027, as the two days preceding the Aerial Intensive include the WDM International Aerial Competition. This international competition allows aerial artists to present their work to a jury and compete for various awards, grants, and opportunities offered by the World Dance Movement.

The competition will take place on July 19th and 20th, 2027, on the outdoor stage at Largo Porta Grande, in the heart of Castellana Grotte. July 19th is dedicated to participant registration, technical rehearsals, and the start of competition-related activities. This close integration of training, performance, and competition makes the event particularly appealing for artists wishing to have their work reviewed by professionals and discover other approaches to aerial disciplines.

Another important aspect of the program is the RWS Global auditions scheduled for July 19, 2027. These auditions offer participating aerial artists an additional opportunity to gain exposure in a professional setting. RWS Global is involved in show production and artist recruitment for various international productions and destinations. The Castellana Grotte event may therefore be of interest not only to practitioners looking to improve their technical skills, but also to established artists who wish to expand their network and explore new professional opportunities.

The WDM Italy Aerial Intensive combines several dimensions: learning, intensive training, artistic creation, international networking, competition, and professional opportunities. This blend distinguishes it from a simple technical workshop in aerial silks or hoop.

The organization also emphasizes networking opportunities for participants. A dinner bringing together teachers and participants of the aviation program is planned for Thursday, July 22, 2027, providing an opportunity to continue discussions outside of class and enjoy the international atmosphere of the festival.

For accommodation, World Dance Movement works with the Semiramide Palace Hotel, located at Via Conversano 157 in Castellana Grotte. Negotiated rates are available for WDM participants. However, the organizers ask participants wishing to take advantage of these rates to contact the hotel directly rather than booking through their website. Prices vary depending on the room type and package chosen, ranging from €55 to €125 per person per day. A tourist tax of €3 per person is also charged for the first five days of the stay.

Transportation options are available to facilitate travel for international participants. Bari-Palese Airport is the recommended arrival point, the main point of entry for reaching Castellana Grotte. A transfer service between the airport and the accommodation can be arranged upon reservation. A WDM Aerial Bus Pass also allows for daily travel between the partner hotel, the studios, and the various venues hosting WDM activities.

Regarding pricing, participants can take advantage of an Early Bird rate until May 15, 2027. The registration fee is $45, plus the cost of the chosen package. Before May 15, the advertised prices are $250 for one daily session, $335 for two sessions, $390 for three sessions, and $435 for four sessions per day, over the three days of the workshop. From May 16 onward, these packages will increase to $275, $365, $415, and $465 respectively, plus the registration fee. Parents or observers wishing to attend the workshops are also subject to the registration procedures specified by the organizers.

Registration for the 2027 edition opens on October 15, 2026. Those interested should therefore register early, particularly if they wish to benefit from the preferential rate or organize a complete stay including the training course, the competition and the other events of the air program.

Beyond training, the World Dance Movement boasts a strong international dimension. The project brings together artists and practitioners from numerous countries and seeks to foster exchanges between different cultures and artistic approaches. In Castellana Grotte, dance and aerial arts come together in a festival atmosphere where students, artists, teachers, and performing arts professionals meet.

Participating in the WDM Italy 2027 Aerial Intensive means dedicating three full days to aerial silks, hoop, trapeze, hammock, and straps, while enjoying an international event that combines training and live performance. The most experienced artists can also take advantage of the international competition and professional auditions, while intermediate practitioners can primarily use this immersive experience to progress and discover new approaches to their discipline.

The entire event takes place in the summer setting of Castellana Grotte, in southern Italy, a town in Puglia known for its famous caves and located near other iconic regional destinations such as Alberobello. WDM Italy 2027 thus offers the opportunity to combine an intensive aerial circus workshop, international artistic encounters, and a stay in Puglia.

With its three days of training, its multiple apparatus, its different levels, its international competition, its auditions and its moments of meeting, the WDM Italy 2027 Aerial Intensive is therefore particularly aimed at aerial acrobatics and circus enthusiasts who wish to live an intensive and international experience in Italy.

• Page officielle du WDM Italy 2027 Aerial Intensive
• Site de World Dance Movement
• Page officielle des inscriptions WDM Italy
• Hôtel partenaire – Semiramide Palace Hotel

World Dance Movement Italy