RAD ICARO Project
International Connection (between) Artists, Repertoire and Orchestra
A cultural event conceived by the Royal Academy of Dance Italia in collaboration with the Municipality of Pesaro, the Rossini Symphony Orchestra of Pesaro, and Arte e Balletto Pesaro, a professional dance school.
The event will be hosted at the prestigious Teatro Rossini in Pesaro and will run from December 27, 2025, to January 5, 2026. Students selected from various European countries will participate in a high-level dance training group to create Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s repertoire ballet “The Nutcracker,” the most famous ballet in the history of dance. The performance will take place on January 5, 2026, at 8:30 PM.
The RAD ICARO Project aims to create a one-of-a-kind event, bringing together internationally renowned artists, selected high-caliber students, and the Symphony Orchestra in a cultural project that offers advanced training in classical dance and music.
The staging of Marius Petipa’s original choreography, partially revised and adapted for the occasion, will be entrusted to Ballet Master Michele Vegis, a former dancer with the Teatro alla Scala Ballet Company in Milan from 1998 to 2010 and Ballet Master of the touring Gala event “Roberto Bolle & Friends.” Vegis will also be assisted by the teaching assistants Renata Justino and Cristina Zatti, both examiners at the Royal Academy of Dance London.
How to participate in the auditions
All ballet students who have achieved an adequate level of preparation to support high-level daily work may participate in the selections.
Level A
- Students aged 9-11
- No pointe work
Level B
- Students aged 12+
- Pointe work mandatory
- A good level of knowledge of the vocational vocabulary of technical work is required, both for work at the bar and center
Auditions process
The audition class includes exercises that include the technical and artistic content of the ballet in question and subsequently the learning of a choreography from The Nutcracker with which the speed of learning, technical awareness, musical sensitivity and performance quality will be tested.
Who will evaluate candidates?
Candidates will be evaluated by Elaine Holland LRAD | ARAD, RAD Examiner
Artistic Residency
The selected students will be invited to participate in the artistic residency that will take place in Pesaro from December 27th to January 5th.
Participation fees
The artistic residency fee includes:
- 10 days of full-time artistic training
- For Level A: choir lessons with soprano Paola Tiraferri, a former student of Maestro Luciano Pavarotti, will also be included.
- Costume rental
- Dress rehearsal with orchestra
- Final performance
Level A – 375€
Level B – 475€
Accomodation
Throughout the preparation period, students will be able to stay at the hotel that has partnered with the event, a beautiful, high-end hotel where all students and RAD staff can stay at a very affordable rate specifically designed for this very important event.
Hotel Charlie (4 stelle)
Viale Trieste 281
Pesaro
https://www.charliehotels.it/
Hotel rates
Arrival on the 27th December, departure on the 6th January 2026 (9 nights)
Half board
The half-board option includes breakfast and a three-course dinner served with a menu chosen by the chef (starter, main course, dessert, or fruit), water included.
€520 (excluding the €3 tourist tax per day, payable on site)
Full board
The full-board package includes breakfast and a three-course dinner with a chef’s choice menu (starter, main course, dessert, or fruit), water included. Lunch will be provided by a local caterer, and participants can choose their menu in advance.
€620 (€3 per day city tax not included, to be paid on site)
Participants’ Families
Participants’ families will be able to stay at the partner hotel at discounted rates. A discount code will be provided to apply to the booking.
Chaperones
A chaperone service will also be available for the entire duration of the workshop at a cost of €100 per student, with a minimum of 10 participants. Full details will be provided to interested parties.
Next auditions
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