Passionate researcher, experienced scholar on the subject, and lover of beauty, Nino Graziano Luca found his true vocation in dance and its harmony. Mesmerized by
MARATONA D’ESTATE, the iconic TV program curated by VITTORIA OTTOLENGHI for the Italian public broadcaster RAI, he started to study History of Dance.
The DANCE GALA with VLADIMIR DEREVIANKO and the ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET (the ballet company founded in 1950 by Dame Alicia Markova and Sir Anton
Dolin, stars of Ballets Russes,) marked his debut at 18 as director and presenter, followed by the INTERNATIONAL BALLROOM DANCE FESTIVAL with SHARON SAVOY (an American dancer who started her training at the School of American Ballet from which she bursted onto the ballroom scene becoming a star of theatrical dancing) and MARCEL PENEUX (one of the world’s greatest tapdancers), and by JAMALO, an Afro – Jazz dance show.
It was during a trip to Scotland that he decided to participate in a workshop on Scottish Country Dances and Social Dances. That was the beginning of his exciting carreer. In 1989 he moved to Bologna to attend the Drama Art and Music Studies (DAMS) Bachelor program at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities where in 1990 EUGENIA CASINI ROPA, chair of History of Theater and Performing Arts, “held a theoretical-practical seminar on social dances from times past in order to expand and implement the results of on-going research works,”(See “About Us” “A master of dreams” by Eugenia Casini Ropa). In 1991 Professor Casini Ropa pioneered a Course in Dance History. It was a first in any Italian university.
That experiment set the tone for the first 10 years of research during which Nino Graziano Luca conducted in-depth studies of dance manuals, carried out fascinating transcriptions of choreographies and developed professional practice while producing shows and performances, engaging in organizing social 19th-century themed events, finalizing his master dissertation (which ended up with all Committee Members standing up to give him a round of applause and a summa cum laude degree), starting a professional cooperation with the University of Bologna and most of all refining his own definition of “historical dance” (which is widely used in the world today) precisely when scholars and experts preferred to use terms like “social dance”, “Society dance”, “Court dance”, “early dance” or more specifically “medieval dance”, “baroque dance” and “regency dance”.
Nino Graziano Luca defined “HISTORICAL DANCE” as a theoretical-practical music and dance system based on Dance Manuals, most of which were found in Europe, starting from Domenico da Piacenza’s “DE ARTE SALTANDI ET CHOREAS DUCENDI” (presumably written between 1445 and 1447). Moreover, he believed that to be a
‘Historical Dance scholar’ one should engage in an interdisciplinary study of the arts in order to achieve a better understanding of the way this discipline interacted with society over time.
During his University years at Bologna (where he graduated summa cum laude after a career with flying colors), Nino Graziano Luca studied History of Theater, Dance and
Performing Arts with EUGENIA CASINI ROPA, Semiology with UMBERTO ECO, Drama with CLAUDIO MELDOLESI and CRISTINA VALENTI, Theater Directing with ARNALDO PICCHI, History of Music with MARIO BARONI, Art History with RENATO BARILLI, Aesthetics with LUCIANO NANNI, Italian Literature with PIERO CAMPORESI, Semiotics of Theater and Drama with MARCO DE MARINIS, History of Cinema with ANTONIO COSTA, Techniques of Photography with ALFREDO DE PAZ, Mass Communication with UGO VOLLI, Psychology with PIO ENRICO RICCI BITTI. He also attended several workshops and Masterclass with JERZY GROTOWSKI, EUGENIO BARBA of the Odin Theatre, JUDITH MALINA (co-founder of the Living Theatre with Julian Beck), FABRIZIO CRUCIANI, PINA BAUSCH, DARIO FO.
In 2000 he founded the Compagnia Nazionale di Danza Storica and since then has headed it as its president and artistic director.
Over the last few years, together with the Corps de Ballet of Professional Dancers, he has staged numerous performances in Italian and international theatres and has actively stimulated the work of associations in organising Grand Masked Balls, Tea Dances, Historical Dance Courses, Masterclasses, Lectures, Exhibitions and the Grand Debutante Ball with the aim of promoting historical dances.
Member of the UNESCO International Dance Council – CID.
Creator and Artistic Director of the WORLD of FASHION, the format to exhibit the winter and summer collections of fashion designers from the five continents at ALTAROMA.
Since 2004 he teaches the HISTORY OF FASHION AND CONTEMPORARY FASHION and a MASTER’S COURSE IN FASHION MANAGEMENT at the Accademia
Euromediterranea di Moda (Euro-Mediterranean Academy of Fashion).
Since December 2019 he is Master of Ceremonies at the PREMIO PUCCINI AWARD, organised by the Fondazione Festival Pucciniano at the Enrico Caruso Auditorium in Torre del Lago.
Since October 2018 he is Master of Ceremonies at the RASSEGNA INTERNAZIONALE DI DOCUMENTARI ETNOGRAFICI «VITTORIO DE SETA», organised by the
Federazione Italiana Tradizioni Popolari.
Since August 2018, together with Roberta Giarrusso, he is Master of Ceremonies of the PREMIO TOMASI DI LAMPEDUSA at Palazzo Filangieri Cutò in Santa Margherita Belice, the city of The Leopard.
Since 2013 he is Master of Ceremonies at the Gala of the SEDUZIONI E GUSTO FESTIVAL in Buonvicino.
Since 2009 he is Master of Ceremonies at the PREMIO CURCIO PER LE ATTIVITA’ CREATIVE in Rome.
Since 2006 he is Master of Ceremonies at the MADEINMEDI event in Catania, a fashion show presenting the collections of the newly graduated fashion designers from the
Accademia Euromediterranea di Moda.
Since 2003 he is Master of Ceremonies at MODAMOVIE, an event celebrating the relationship between the world of fashion, the cinema and the arts through the creations of emerging creative talents. The event is organised by the CREAZIONE e IMMAGINE Association at the Teatro Rendano in Cosenza.
Since 2000 he is Master of Ceremonies at the GALA DELLE MARGHERITE, one of the Capital’s most prestigious solidarity events organised by Bianca Maria Caringi Lucibelli at Rome’s Excelsior Hotel.
In 2019, he taught an advanced vocational training course titled GALATEI E BUONE MANIERE – PERCORSI NEL COSTUME (Etiquette and good manners – the Evolution
of Traditions) at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, organised by the Department of SARAS (History, Anthropology, Religion, Art and Entertainment) of the Faculty of the Humanities.
In 2019, he held a Masterclass on the HISTORY OF ITALIAN FASHION, organised by H.E. the Ambassador of Lebanon to Italy, Mira Daher, for the students of the AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY in Beirut at the Starhotels Business Palace in Milan.
Through the academic year of 2018/2019, he collaborated with Vito Di Bernardi, Chair of the History of Dance at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, by organising the
credit-awarding university COURSE IN HISTORICAL DANCE.
In 2018, he held a Masterclass on ORGANISING INTERNATIONAL EVENTS at the Rome Business School.
He taught DESIGN 2 at the IED - Istituto Europeo di Design - in Rome. The one-year course aimed at providing basic knowledge and skills in developing and planning
communication events.
In 2016 and 2017, upon the invitation of Danilo Scarrone, the Director of the Public Utility Channels of the public broadcaster RAI, he was on the panel of teachers for the
Advanced Vocational Training Course on COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES, INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONS WITH THE PRESS held in Rome
for the State Police.
In 2009, he held Lessons on his Career for the Master’s Course in the Management of Performing Arts at the Istituto d’Alta Formazione of Rome.
In 2009, he held a lesson on the subject: FEMME FATALE. DEA ISPIRATRICE / INSPIRING GODDESS at the University of Calabria at Rende.
From 2008 to 2010, he taught BUSINESS ETIQUETTE for the Italian Federation of Commerce, Tourism and Services – Confcommercio – in Tuscany.
In 2006, he taught a MASTER’s COURSE IN THE CULTURE OF FASHION at the University of Tor Vergata in Rome.
From 2000 to 2005, he collaborated with Silvia Carandini, Chair of History of Theater and Entertainment at the University of Rome "La Sapienza", by holding a cycle of theoretical and practical lessons on the subject of the GRAND BALLS of the 19 th Century, which closed with a yearly performance staged by the university students at the Teatro Ateneo of Rome.
In 1999, he held a cycle of lessons on the subject of HISTORICAL DANCES for the Course on the Methodology of Critique of the Arts held by Alfredo De Paz at the University of Bologna.
He is the author of the book entitled Gran Balli dell’800. Da Via Col Vento al Gattopardo (Grand Balls of the 19 th Century: from Gone with the Wind to The Leopard, published by Armando Curcio Editore) complete with two CDs, photos and paintings, which surveys the results obtained in his 20-year-long study of the world of Fashion, Dance and Bon Ton between the late 18 th and the early 20 th century. The book was published under the patronage of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and of the Embassy of Austria and was presented, inter alia, at the Chamber of Deputies and at the Embassy of Austria. In October 2017, at its fifth reprint, it was also published in a paperback edition. In 2019 it was translated into English.
He authored the chapter entitled Bon Vivre – Bon Ton. Il progredire della civiltà nelle relazioni interpersonali (The Evolution of Civilization in Interpersonal Relations) published in the volume La Moda e la Cultura del Buon Vivere by various authors, including: Rosanna Lambertucci, Lara Aragno Gigli, Mara Parmegiani, Hélène Blignaut, Liuba Popova.
In a volume titled Essere belli conviene? edited by Hélène Blignaut and published by Franco Angeli, Nino Graziano Luca is interviewed together with Bryan Adams, Carol Alt, Elio Fiorucci, Nadege, Mario Boselli, Maria Concetta Mattei and other personalities from the world of culture and fashion.
From 2015 to 2019, he wrote and presented the TV magazine CULTURA ON THE ROAD and the programme LA DOLCE VITA: la Nobiltà ed il Jet Set Oggi for RAI ISORADIO.
In 2016 – together with Davide Santirocchi – he was the RAI ISORADIO correspondent at the SANREMO SONG FESTIVAL, presenting the afternoon programme Sessanta minuti da Sanremo and commented the RAIUNO live broadcasts of the Festival from the Press Room of the Teatro Ariston with the contestants and leading Italian journalists.
From 2014 to 2015, he was the HISTORICAL DANCE TUTOR for RAIDUE’s DETTO FATTO programme hosted by Caterina Balivo.
From 2012 to 2015, he wrote and presented the following shows for RAI RADIO 1: PRIMA DI TUTTO 2012 on RAI RADIO 1 with Pietro Plastina and Susanna Lemma; ITALIA AL VOTO; ANTEPRIMA DI TUTTO; PRIMA DI TUTTO 2013 with Francesca Malaguti and Marco Sabene; BAOBAB with Tiziana Ribichesu.
In 2011, for RAI INTERNATIONAL, he wrote and presented the TV magazines BUONE MANIERE - STILE ITALIANO and ITALIA: TI AMO for the Italia Extra programme.
In 2007, he wrote and presented CONSIGLI PER GLI ACQUISTI … LIBRARI, a daily magazine on new literary releases aired four times a day on CINQUESTELLE/SKY 906.
In 2005, he taught the minuet in the reality show broadcast by RAIUNO: RITORNO AL PRESENTE.
From 2004 to 2010, together with Leyla Pafumi, he co-authored and presented approximately 500 episodes of two programmes broadcast by RAIDUE: the EFFETTO IERI news show co-produced in partnership with the ANSA news agency to cover the most relevant events in the second half of the 20 th century; and ALLA GALLINA ABBUFFATA, an entertainment show with Italian and international guests.
In the previous years, he presented the following: TEATRO E DANZA. SCELTI PER VOI broadcast by RAI INTERNATIONAL; MODA on STREAM NEWS; MODA E VIP, QUA LA MANO, CITTÀ SUL MEDITERRANEO (together with Sebastiano Somma), and PEOPLE, all of which were broadcast by the CINQUESTELLE national broadcasting network; IN VIAGGIO, broadcast on ODEON TV; IN … CANTO SULLA RIVIERA, broadcast for three years on ITALIA 7, featuring the most popular singers from the ‘60s and ‘70s onwards.
In 1996, he presented the closing night of the SANREMO FESTIVAL OF 1996 for RADIO ITALIA SOLO MUSICA ITALIANA, after having commented the Festival’s week-long contest on RETE ITALIA AUSTRALIA.
In 1995, he danced the Kaiser Walzer in the UNA FESTA PER L’EUROPA programme broadcast in Eurovision by RAIUNO. The show’s guests included: Carla Fracci, Milva, the Aterballetto modern dance company and the Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale of Bologna.
In 1995, he was the production manager of the docufilm GIOVANNI VERGA.
In 1993, he was the production manager of two documentary films: IL SENTIERO IDEALE produced by the WWF and UNA LEGGENDA CHIAMATA ETNA for RAI, the national public broadcasting company. He was the guest star as a fashion and lifestyle expert in several instalments of RAI’s UNOMATTINA, CASARAIUNO, FESTA ITALIANA, COMINCIAMO BENE, MAGAZINE SUL 2, LA VITA IN DIRETTA, TG2 COSTUME E SOCIETA’, GEO & GEO, COSE DELL’ALTRO GEO … on MEDIASET’s VIVERE MEGLIO … and on M.O.D.A., broadcast by LA7.
He presented or directed the fashion shows of a large number of fashion designers: Renato Balestra; Fausto Sarli; Lorenzo Riva; Alviero Martini; Rocco Barocco; Gattinoni; Nino Lettieri; Giada Curti; John Richmond; Addy Van Den Krommenacker; Egon Von Furstemberg; Lancetti; Marella Ferrera; Anton Giulio Grande; Grimaldi Giardina; Regina Schrecker; Chiara Boni; Ella Zahlan; Abhed Mafhouz; Toufic Hatab; Camillo Bona; Ettore Bilotta; Miss Bikini; Seduzioni e Diamonds By Valeria Marini; Jamal Taslaq; Gabriella Ferrera; Rosy Garbo; Litrico Couture; Fares/Fares; Farad Re; Gianni Cavagna; Randa Salamoun; Tilu’; Hybris; Laura Pieralisi; Hany El Behairy; Hana Sadiq; Afroditi Hera; Elvio Acevedo; Hendrik Vermeulen; Marcela De Cala; Nabil Younes; Lisbeth Camargo; Raja El Rayes; Hana Sadiq; Azzurra Di Lorenzo; Lamia Abi Nader; Carlos Arturo Zapata; Ali Karoui; Michelle Salins; Massimiliano Giangrossi; James Dimech; Gustavo Guerrero; Emma Viedma Paoli; Maged Bou Tanous; Ali Beydoun; Shaima El Mansoury.
He directed and presented three yearly editions of the prestigious SETTIMANA DEL BAROCCO. The highlight performances he created for this event include: the Giostra degli Antichi Quartieri (Joust of Ancient Quarters); the Corteo del Principe (the Prince’s Pageant); the Festa di Benvenuto di Don Francesco Branciforti a Donna Giovanna
D’Austria (the Welcome Feast for Dame Joanna of Austria by Don Francesco Branciforti); the Partita a scacchi con personaggi viventi (Living Chess Game); La Moda Incontra il Barocco (Fashion Meets the Baroque); Giochi e Meraviglie di Fuoco e di Acqua (Fire and Water Games of Wonder).
In August 2019, under the project the COMPAGNIA NAZIONALE DI DANZA STORICA MEETS GREAT OPERA, he co-developed with Franco Moretti LA BOHÈME AND THE GRAND BALL OF THE 19 TH CENTURY, which was staged at the Gran Teatro Puccini in Torre del Lago as part of the Official Playbill of the 65 th Puccini Festival, and directed the Suite from the Grand Ballof the 19 th century preceding the BOHÈME conducted by Alfonso Signorini and featuring ANGELA GHEORGHIU.
In June 2019, he presented the PREMIO FAIR PLAY DELLA POLITICA (Fair Play in Politics Award) at the Italian Chamber of Deputies, which was conferred on the President of the Senate, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, and on Hon. Giusy Versace.
In May 2019, he directed the Grand Ball entertainment show featuring ROBERTO BOLLE and the Compagnia Nazionale di Danza Storica at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana art gallery in Milan, as part of the official programme of On DANCE 2019 created by Roberto Bolle.
In May 2019, he directed MAK Π 100 for the historically prestigious Teulié Military School of Milan.
In June 2018, at the Milan Conservatory, he directed and presented the event to PROCLAIM AUSTRIA PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, featuring the Milan Conservatory ensemble and the Corps de Ballet of the Compagnia Nazionale di Danza Storica.
In May 2018 and May 2019, he organised and directed the GRAND BALL OF THE 19 TH CENTURY ON LAKE COMO at the Opera Theatre, Teatro Sociale of Como.
In February 2019, the Florence-based DANZAINFIERA celebrated its 30 th edition with Historical Dances and invited him to stage the Suite from the Grand Ballof the 19 th century with the Compagnia Nazionale di Danza Storica. At the event, he danced a waltz with international dance star LUCIA LACARRA.
In August 2018, under the project COMPAGNIA NAZIONALE DI DANZA STORICA MEETS GREAT OPERA, he co-produced with Barbara Minghetti LA TRAVIATA AND THE GRAND BALL OF THE 19 TH CENTURY at the Sferisterio of Macerata, as part of the Official Playbill of the Macerata Opera Festival 2018, and directed the Grand Ball of the 19 th century against the famous backdrop of mirrors by Josef Svoboda at the close of LA TRAVIATA conducted by HENNING BROCKHAUS.
In September 2017, he organised and directed the GRAND BALL OF THE KINGDOM OF THE TWO SICILIES at the Reggia (Royal Palace) of Caserta with 300 dancers donning 19 th century costumes to celebrate the first anniversary of the Bicentenary of the Foundation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
In April 2017, he organised and directed the GRAND BALL OF THE 19 TH CENTURY: THE ITALIAN BALL IN BUDAPEST at the Stefania Palace Cultural Centre in the Hungarian capital.
In April 2017, he was a guest, along with the Compagnia Nazionale di Danza Storica, on Milly Carlucci’s popular TV show BALLANDO CON LE STELLE on RAIUNO.
In 2017, Nino Graziano Luca was among the stars on VERDI RACCONTA VERDI at the Sala Squarzina of the Teatro Argentina in Rome.
In July 2016, he organised and directed the GRAND BALL OF THE 19 TH CENTURY: THE ITALIAN BALL IN MALTA at the historicalal Casino Maltese, once known as the Casa del Commun Tesoro, in Valletta.
In November 2015, he directed the IMPERIAL GRAND BALL OF THE 19 TH CENTURY at the Gala for the King and Queen of Malaysia at the Shangri - La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
In April 2015, he directed the GRAND BALL FOR THE BICENTENARY OF THE CONGRESS OF VIENNA at the Parkhotel Schönbrunn in Vienna.
In December 2014, he directed the dancing in the VENICE TO VIENNA GRAND BALL performance at the Astrakhan State Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Russia;
In 2010, he presented and directed the SAN VALENTINO PER TELETHON national event at the Circolo della Stampa (Press Club) in Milan and at the Seven Stars Galleria of Milan;
In 2010, at the BIT Milano travel exhibition, he presented and directed the performances at the stand CASERTA. LE MERAVIGLIE DELLA REGGIA (The Marvels of the Royal Palace) and the Grand Ball for the Reggia di Caserta, organised by the Teulié Military School of Milan.
From 2009 to 2013, he presented numerous events and conferences hosted in the Sala delle Colonne at the Chamber of Deputies.
In 2009, he presented and directed La Povertà nell’Arte Convivial Symposium featuring Vittorio Sgarbi at Rome’s Palazzo Brancaccio and at Palazzo Biscari in Catania.
In 2009, he presented and directed the Conference on the Holy Shroud at the Auditorium of the Pontifical Laterna University, attended by Mgr. Giuseppe Ghiberti, Prof Maria Grazia Siligato, Mgr. Enrico Dal Covolo and the Choir of Rome directed by da Mgr. Frisina.
In 2008, in cooperation with the Teatro Ambra Jovinelli, he organised the Gran Ballo di Primavera, celebrando Verdi e la sua Trilogia (Grand Ball of Spring to Celebrate Verdi and his Trilogy).
In 2008, he presented and directed the Concert by Gloria Gaynor at the Verona Arena.
Nel 2008, he directed the Festa Rinascimentale event at Palazzo Tè in Mantua.
In June 2007, he was the director and presenter of the Celebration for the Football World Championship won by Italy in 2006 organised by UNICREDIT in Berlin. The event featuring a concert by Fiorello and his orchestra was held both at the Berlin Stadium – before an audience of 20,000 Italians and several players of the Italy National Team – and at the Treptow Arena and Estrel Festival Centre.
In 2007, he directed and presented events at the Italian Embassies in Madrid, Paris and Cairo.
From 2006 to 2012, he was Artistic Director and Master of Ceremonies of The Look of The Year International Fashion Award.
In 2004, he directed and presented: IL CAVALIERE PROFETA DI LYDDA, an event in which dancers, actors, painters and fashion designers conveyed the message of St. George through a contemporary performing arts experience.
In 2004, he directed and presented the Prix Mediterranée at the Italian Embassy in Tunis and in Hammamet, in Tunisia.
From 1995 to 2002, he was artistic director of IN … CANTO SULLA RIVIERA, a festival of the most popular singers of the ‘60s/’70s/’80s hosted in Catania.
In 1993, he organised the Conference on the Theatre in Sicily in collaboration with Claudio Meldolesi and the University of Bologna.
From 1993 to 2016, he was artistic director and master of ceremonies of the POSIDONE Festival of Culture and the Environment.
In 1990, he began a research project on the Manuals written by the leading European Dance Masters of the 19 th century and later studied the Dance Treatises published from the Renaissance through to the early 20 th century.
After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Bologna in Drama Art and Music Studies, with Eugenia Casini Ropa as his thesis supervisor and a doctoral dissertation titled L’Etichetta nei Balli di Società del XIX secolo (Etiquette in Social Dances in the 19 th Century), he studied acting and diction at the School of the Teatro Antoniano of Bologna and attended courses in communication.
AMBASCIATORE PER LA PACE NEL MONDO (Ambassador of Peace in the World Award), conferred on him by Maria Pia Fanfani in 2002.
PREMIO FOYER DES ARTISTES, awarded to him by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
SCHIACCIANOCI D’ORO, awarded to him at the Quirino Theatre of Rome for his work with the Compagnia Nazionale di Danza Storica.
MEDAGLIA D’ORO DI SAN GIORGIO PER LE BENEMERENZE (Gold Medal of Merit of the Order of St. George) conferred on him by Prince Lillio Sforza Marescotti Ruspoli for his research work on the figure of St. George and for his direction of the theatre performance Il Cavaliere Profeta di Lydda.
LEONARDO DA VINCI “THE GENIUS AND HIS INVENTIONS” EUROPEAN AWARD for his inspired intuition to found the Compagnia Nazionale di Danza Storica, an emblem of the Italian culture of excellence.
PREMIO BRONZI DI RIACE, for his commitment in favour of the growth and development of Italy.
ACCADEMICO DI SICILIA, for the entertainment and culture division.
PREMIO SALVO RANDONE, for his activity as artistic director and cultural broadcaster.
PREMIO MODA MOVIE, awarded to him for his commitment to promoting young fashion designers at the Teatro Rendano in Cosenza.
PREMIO LENNON, awarded to him for his commitment to promoting Italian music and historical dances in the world at the Belpasso Festival.
PIGNA D’ARGENTO, awarded to him for the excellent role played in disseminating culture at the Teatro Politeama in Palermo.
PREMIO PRESENTATORE EMERGENTE, conferred on him by Pippo Baudo in 1995.
ARTISTA EMERGENTE PER LA TV, awarded to him by the International Tourist Club Organization in 1995.
