Termini Undergound
Rome’s Termini Station, the largest in Italy, welcomes nearly half a million passengers every day. Few, however, know that beneath its platforms lies a vibrant underground world of dance and music. At the end of platform 24, a former recreational hall for railway workers has become a rehearsal space for a multiethnic dance company active for over ten years.
Founded by choreographer Angela Cocozza, Termini Underground was created as a space for connection and integration through dance. Immigrants, second- and third-generation Italians, refugees, and street dancers come together here, breaking down prejudice through breakdance, hip-hop, house, and dancehall. They come from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, yet most grew up in Italy — and many call Termini “home.” They are the new Italians, even though many still lack citizenship.
Some of those who grew up here now teach others, keeping the community alive. In this small rehearsal room, teenagers from the Chinese community dance alongside Romans, following the lead of an African teacher — a microcosm of the city’s true diversity.
Today the project’s future is uncertain, threatened by tighter security measures within the station.
