The Balletto di Roma company was founded in 1960 through the artistic partnership of two icons of Italian dance, Franca Bartolomei and Walter Zappolini. Since its inception, the company has been dedicated to producing and promoting original Italian dance across Europe and around the world. Its repertoire today is rooted in tradition yet open to innovation and experimentation, drawing on the rich legacy that established its reputation.

Over the past 65 years, Balletto di Roma has engaged in prestigious collaborations and embraced a wide range of creative influences. This has fueled the company’s growth both in terms of quantity and quality of its productions, earning increasing acclaim from audiences. Over time, the Rome-based company has developed a unique production model in Italy, one that preserves its repertoire while constantly evolving it—supporting choreographic creativity and maintaining a high standard of technical and interpretive excellence among its dancers.

Alongside its artistic production, Balletto di Roma is also deeply committed to comprehensive training—two foundational pillars that define the company. This dual focus merges into a single, distinguished brand in Italy’s cultural landscape. Today, the company’s main goal is to support the next generation of dancers and secure their educational and professional recognition at a European level.

This ambitious and sustainable vision is made possible through the support of public institutions (the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Lazio Region, the City of Rome, the European Union, and Italian Cultural Institutes abroad) as well as the enthusiastic response from audiences who attend performances in Italy and beyond. Notably, during its 2023 China Tour, Balletto di Roma received the “Premio Eccellenza Italia” at the China Awards for its performance of Romeo and Juliet, choreographed by Fabrizio Monteverde. This recognition has paved the way for a follow-up tour in 2024 and 2025.

The company’s current identity is the result of the managerial leadership of Luciano Carratoni, who, since the early 2000s, has steered Balletto di Roma toward artistic growth. In 2018, he oversaw a major generational shift by appointing Francesca Magnini as Artistic Director. Under her guidance, the company has strengthened its direction and expanded its vision, building partnerships with institutions, cultural organizations, and prestigious universities in Italy and abroad to foster dialogue and continuous renewal.

Today, Balletto di Roma continues to nurture emerging talent through education and production, representing a high-quality brand recognized both nationally and internationally—proudly promoting the rich cultural heritage of Italian creativity and excellence: Made in Italy.