LUDT’s history

The LUDT originated in 1985 in Mantua, in the wonderful ballrooms of Valentini’s Palace, thanks to the initiative by Academic Honorable Prof. Daniela Ghiraldini. The project got the Personal Patronage of the President of the Republic, Sandro Pertini. Because of its uniqueness, many candidates asked for enrolments to the new born LUDT, both for its High level courses – open to 16 years old - and its master’s. First auditions, held by Isabel Glowaska for classic dance and Elsa Piperno for modern dance, showed LUDT on an international way. A significant part of Italian Students weren’t promoted: Glowaska didn’t consider Italian students able to attend the Advanced Course. The attendance of Foreign Students, particularly from East Europe, became the main characteristic of the Advanced Course; meanwhile, the LUDT instituted different levels’ courses for the Italian students. Albachiara Lomellini was nominated Artistic Director: in few years, under her management, the Compagnia Regionale del Balletto di Mantova was instituted; and the international competitions “DanzaEuropa” and the “Concorso Katia Ricciarelli” were organized. Many of those events are still part of the LUDT’s programs. The LUDT lists among its teachers the most famous of the international dance field: just as examples, Gianni Zari (Teatro alla Scala), Paul Majorescu (Opera of Bucarest), Leo Picchiarello (Arena of Verona), Deborah Weaver (San Francisco’s Theatre), Elsa Piperno, Rita Poolvorde (Bejart Ballet), Claudio Gasparotto (Gasparotto’s ballet company), Panajot Kanaci (Opera of Tirana), Ileana Iliescu, (Artistic Director, 'Opera of) Bucarest and many many others.

Many artists chaired our Competitions’ panels: Luciana Savignano, Marco Pierin, Anna Razzi, Arturo Testa, Katia Ricciarelli, Vittoria Ottolenghi, Joan Bosioc, Leonard Ajkun, Nicoletta Josifescu, Carola Zingarelli and many many others.

Nicoletta Josifescu has undertaken the Artistic Direction, while Daniela Ghiraldini is still the Chancellor. The heritage of this period is a process of growing internationalization: many partnerships will be established. Among the others, we quote the Special Partnerships with the Ajkun Ballet Theatre di New York (USA), Draft Agreements with the Academy of Dance in Tirana (Albany) and with the Art Theatre Ion Widu, Public College in Timisoara (Romania), the adhesion to CID, the International Dancers Council and to the World Dance Alliance – Europe.

The LUDT is increasing its links with the Italian ground as well: LUDT has organized Courses of Formation financed by the European Union, and it is accredited at the Sardinia Region as Promoting Corporation for Formation Courses.

During LUDT activities’ years, more than 90% of our Alumni have found an occupation in the Dance and Dance Teaching field.