Benedetta Maria Jolanda Dalai

Benedetta Maria Jolanda Dalai serves as Professor of Scenography at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna (ABABO), teaching comprehensive courses across all three academic years: Scenography I, II, and III. With a degree from the Brera Academy, she has extensive professional experience as set designer for major Italian cultural institutions including Teatro alla Scala, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Teatro Regio di Parma, and Piccolo Teatro di Milano.

Her research focuses on the evolution of scenography as an applied art that transcends traditional theatrical boundaries to encompass film, television, installations, and event design. She emphasizes both conventional techniques and cutting-edge technologies in stage design, exploring the integration of stage machinery, lighting design, and new media in contemporary performance spaces. Her teaching methodology combines theoretical instruction with hands-on laboratory work and educational field trips to professional venues.

Professor Dalai's scholarly contributions include multiple influential scenography manuals that form the core bibliography for fine arts programs across Italy. Her publications demonstrate consistent focus on practical applications of scenographic principles across diverse media platforms, with increasing attention to event production and new technologies in recent works.

Her professional collaborations span international venues from the Verona Arena to the Seoul National Theatre in Korea and Showa Theatre in Tokyo, working with renowned designers including Italo Grassi, Anna Anni, and Denis Krief. She has served in leadership roles such as Director of Productions for Teatro delle Celebrazioni in Bologna and Director of Stage Props for Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto.

Professor Dalai maintains active engagement with professional practice while teaching, having recently created sets and costumes for contemporary productions including 'Motopsichica' dedicated to Allen Ginsberg and 'Erranti' inspired by Dino Campana's poetry. Her work on Ridley Scott's film 'Hannibal' as set technician demonstrates her cross-media expertise spanning theatrical and cinematic production.