25 June: ‘Preventing harassment through physical theatre’, presentation at the Flourishing Minds Conference

The Research Team at the Accademia Teatro Dimitri will take part in the Flourishing Minds Conference on 25 June, an interdisciplinary conference dedicated to the wellbeing of the female brain and the promotion of health through dialogue between science, art, music, movement and lived experience. At the conference, the Academy will present the research project ‘Preventing harassment through physical theatre’, a study exploring the potential of performative practices as a tool for awareness, prevention and social transformation.

The project takes the form of an experiential workshop based on physical theatre, in which the body becomes the primary tool for exploration, connection and learning. Through movement exercises, physical exploration and moments of shared reflection, the initiative offers practical tools for recognising and addressing everyday forms of violation of personal and social boundaries, with a particular focus on the issue of sexual harassment.

The approach is based on a dialogue between practical experience and critical awareness: it creates a space for collective learning in which physical work is not merely an artistic expression, but also a tool for education, prevention and healing. In this context, physical theatre becomes a language capable of fostering listening, responsibility and new forms of shared awareness.

The initiative forms part of the conference programme, organised by Healing Arts Switzerland in collaboration with the Women’s Brain Foundation, which brings together science, art and human experience to explore new perspectives on wellbeing and prevention.

Demis Quadri is Professor of Research and Teaching in Physical Theatre and head of Research and Services at the Accademia Teatro Dimitri. His work bridges theatre studies and applied performance practices, with a strong focus on physical theatre, commedia dell’arte, and socially engaged theatre.

Angela Calia is a dance-theatre artist, researcher, and teacher whose work focuses on body memory and gender issues, the memory of places, and site-specific creative processes. She works as a junior researcher at the Accademia Teatro Dimitri, where she develops practice-based projects connecting physical theatre, embodied knowledge, and social engagement.

Mathieu Horeau is a philosopher and lecturer-researcher at the Accademia Teatro Dimitri, with a background in aesthetics and classical German philosophy. His current work focuses on the study of empathy and informs applied theatre projects that address social and educational challenges through embodied and participatory practices.