Two dances distant in time and space, yet united by a rhythm that flows through history and collective memory. This is the thread running through From Salento to Aquileia, a research and study project promoted by the La Notte della Taranta Foundation in collaboration with the Fondazione Aquileia, which brings together the pizzica pizzica and the furlana, exploring their shared origins and social meaning.

The initiative begins on Saturday, October 18 at 6:30 pm, in Aquileia with a free concert by the La Notte della Taranta Popular Orchestra at the covered Terminal Unesco venue, organized together with the Municipality and accompanied by a roundtable discussion between institutions, researchers, and scholars from the two regions involved, Puglia and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

On stage will be the musicians and dancers of the Popular Orchestra, a symbol of Salento’s musical tradition and the driving force behind the famous Melpignano Concertone, which every summer attracts thousands of people from around the world. The concert marks the beginning of a broader path of research and cultural dialogue between territories and communities, united by music and popular traditions.

The project From Salento to Aquileia seeks to enhance two dance heritages that, although born in distant regions, share the same vitality and the power to connect generations and cultures. Its aim is to foster a collective reflection on the role of folk dances as a language of identity and a vehicle of shared memory.

As stated by Roberto Corciulo, President of the Fondazione Aquileia, “this initiative marks the beginning of a journey of research and exchange that starts from Aquileia – a symbolic place of encounter between cultures and peoples – and creates dialogue between intangible heritages and communities.”

From Salento to Aquileia brings together institutions, scholars, and local communities in a shared effort to preserve and promote intangible cultural heritage, strengthening the bond between memory, music, and identity.