Antonella Usai is a dancer and relational artist whose work has long been driven by the connection between art, nature, and society. She holds a Master’s degree in Theatre History from the University of Turin, has a solid background in contemporary dance, and completed postgraduate studies in Bharatanatyam—Indian classical dance—at the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad, India. For over thirty years, she has been active in the fields of dance education and choreography in Italy and abroad. As an independent artist, she has collaborated with numerous companies, including La Grande Opera, Controluce Teatro d’Ombre, Zet Tanztheater, Rigolo Tanzendes Theater, and Darpana Performing Group. In 2009, she founded the dance company NAD, a namesake cultural association, and Terra NAD, a bio-architecture centre created to foster human development through artistic practices and the promotion of a systemic vision. Antonella Usai also serves as an artistic consultant for Hangar Piemonte, and is a resident artist at MAO – Museum of Oriental Art in Turin, with which she has been collaborating since its inception.

MAO - Museo Arti Orientali di Torino
Inaugurated in 2008 in the historic setting of Palazzo Mazzonis, the MAO Museo d'Arte Orientale houses one of the most important collections of Asian art in both Italy and Europe. More than just a space for displaying its collections, the MAO is one of Italy’s most significant cultural institutions and a leading centre in Europe for the study and appreciation of Oriental art. Under the new direction of Davide Quadrio, the museum has evolved into a contemporary platform for exploring the relationships between Asia and Turin, Italy, and Europe. The MAO is part of the Fondazione Torino Musei.