The Unical Auditorium Theater in Rende will host the VII edition of the Calabria Dance Prize “Tina Adamo” on 9 and 10 May 2026, an event that confirms itself as one of the most prestigious in the national terpsichorean panorama, capable of attracting schools, choreographers and young talents from all over Italy.
An award in the name of memory
The Award is dedicated to Tina Adamo, a beloved figure who left a profound mark on Calabrian dance and on the training of entire generations of students. Having disappeared prematurely, it now represents a point of reference for the artistic growth of young people.
The artistic direction is entrusted to Ilaria Dima, a protagonist of the Calabrian dance scene for forty years, while the general organization is handled by Antonio De Luca.
Program and awards
The VII edition will officially kick off on Sunday 10 May, at 11.30 am, presented by Andrea De Iacovo. An edition with a symbolic value, coinciding with Mother’s Day, an anniversary that recalls the personal story of Tina Adamo.
During the two days, scholarships will be awarded to the most deserving young people to access important European academies, as well as a cash prize of 500 euros for the best participating school.
Among the most anticipated moments, the Lifetime Achievement Award, already awarded in the past to personalities such as Mia Molinari, Gaetano Posterino, Claudia Zaccari and Joy Womack. The name of the next winner remains confidential.
Organization and support
The organization can count on a team made up of Alessandro Ruffo, Giusy Iantorno, Valentina Cameriere, Espedito Sangermano and Rossella De Luca, involved in the management of reception and logistics. The image and communication are handled by QIQA by Francesca Barbieri.
The organizers underline the importance of enhancing the work of young people and the organizational group, highlighting the support of the Municipality of Montalto Uffugo, the mayor Biagio Faragalli and the councilor Silvio Ranieri, as well as the contribution of the official sponsor “Masseria del Buon Gusto”.
The Danza Calabria Prize is thus confirmed not only as a competition, but as a space for growth and comparison, a bridge between the territory and the main European dance realities.