Once Upon a Time is an interdisciplinary creation, in which there is a constant dialogue between dance, video, music, and lights. This dialogue brings together experiences of women of different generations on stage. It is an investigation through time and the translation through the body of memories, desires, experiences, images, movements and relationships.
The starting point is the figure of the Grandmother, a woman who in her past has been: child, girl, and mother. In the present, she is a Grandmother looking back at her past with nostalgia. This nostalgia is due to the awareness that she cannot live again that part of her life. Although, she still has a potential future, becoming real through her children’s and grandchildren’s lives, even when she will be gone. She seems to perfectly embody the time dimensions: past, present, and future. The creative process involved sixteen grandmothers of different socio-cultural backgrounds who have been involved in interviews and in workshops of DanceAbility. The research started from their memories about their past lives and reflection around a few key words: Love, Nostalgia, Memory, Family.

creation: Francesca Foscarini, Sara Wiktorowicz
performers: Francesca Foscarini, Frida Vannini
video: Dinanda Luttikhedde
woman on video: Arendina Griemelink
light design: Luca Serafini and Sara Wiktorowicz
Musica originale / original music Dennis Tilburg
sound design: Matteo Maffesanti
technical direction: Luca Serafini
co-production: Fondazione Fabbrica Europa, Giardino Chiuso/Orizzonti Verticali, Kilowatt Festival,
Fondazione Teatro Comunale di Vicenza, Dansmakers Amsterdam
in collaboration with Arteven, Van Associazione Culturale
with the support of Trasparenze
sponsored by Gordion Cultureel Advies