SHHH! The Touch of Sound
Performance for young audience (ages 2–5)
by and with Ilaria Carlucci and Manuela Tessi
artistic advisor Tonio De Nitto
set design and technical consultant Alberto Cacopardi
costumes Lilian Indraccolo
production Factory Compagnia Transadriatica (Lecce) / Stichting Knopen
(Amsterdam)
with the support of the Embassy and Consulate General of the Kingdom of the
Netherland
Shhh! – The Touch of Sound is a sensory journey in which sound becomes the absolute
protagonist, explored through the body, the voice, musical instruments, and objects. A
ritual, a dance of perception, designed to stimulate curiosity and wonder in children
aged 2 to 5.
How many Shhh! are needed to slow down the irresistible energy of sound and
movement?
Two performers gently guide the audience with lightness and great attentiveness to
children’s perception, offering a performance that connects sound with movement,
shape, and energy. It is a world where the boundary between dance and music
becomes blurred, and where every small visual or rhythmic stimulus can nurture a
sense of enchantment and wonder in the hearts and eyes of young spectators.
Like true “sound magicians,” the two performers create an atmosphere of deep sensory
involvement, inviting young audiences to feel the dance and to see the music. Thanks to
the synergy between choreography and musical composition, the performance
stimulates rhythmic perception, sound recognition, and the exploration of personal
sensations through the body and through listening.
A fascinating formative experience, capable of stimulating children’s imagination and
offering them a new, rich way of exploring the world around them.
A ritual of sound that enchants and carries young spectators on a sensory journey that
will remain in their hearts.
Artistic Concept
The performance unfolds around the idea of an “exploratory ritual,” in which the
audience is not a passive spectator but an integral part of a sensory process.
Shhh! is not merely a performance, but a mode of participation, where every
movement of the dancers becomes a visual and sonic message for the children. Dance
and music intertwine in a continuous flow, allowing young audiences to experience the
performance fully—without words, but through a universal language that only the body
and sound can express.
Manuela Lucia Tessi has gained international experience in creating performances for
children alongside Japanese choreographer Makiko Ito, collaborating on projects that
merge the languages of dance and music. Ilaria Carlucci, actress, explores in her
research the connection between movement and voice, focusing on the relational
dynamics between performers on stage and vocal expression through the composition
of vocal textures using a loop machine.
Together, they conceived this performance as a sensory celebration for very young
audiences, engaging them in a form of “active listening.” The use of musical instruments
and objects, combined with dance, creates a landscape of sounds and shapes that
stimulates and captivates, allowing children to interact with what they perceive through
movement and emotion.
TRAILER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTNd-969bbM
Objectives and Aims
The main objective of the project is to introduce children to the world of sound and
music through an engaging theatrical performance that combines play and sensory
experience. The performance stimulates perception by blending body, sound, and
movement into a scenic interpretation that invites children to explore sound creatively
and interactively.
The specific aims of the performance are:
● To stimulate children’s sensory perception through the fusion of dance, sound,
and imagery. Every element of the performance is designed to evoke emotional
and sensory responses.
● To promote interaction and direct audience involvement, resulting in an
experience that is not merely observed, but fully lived.
● To provide a space for expression where children’s bodies and minds can
explore rhythm, movement, and sound, without barriers between perception and
experience.
● To encourage active participation, where proximity and exploration of the
surrounding environment become forms of interactive learning.
Performance Characteristics
Shhh! – The Touch of Sound is conceived as an intimate performance for a limited
audience of up to 50 spectators, ensuring a welcoming, focused, and participatory
atmosphere. The intimacy of the space allows for a more direct connection between the
children, the dancers, and the objects used on stage.
The involvement of young spectators is continuous, and the sensory dimension of the
performance invites them to interact, move, listen, and discover emerging sounds and
movements.
The duration of the performance is designed to sustain children’s attention without
overwhelming them, creating a playful environment of discovery that lasts no more than
40 minutes—perfectly suited to children’s natural curiosity.
The Music
Music plays a fundamental role in the performance. Simple acoustic instruments and a
loop station—particularly impactful for very young audiences—accompany the dancers’
movements. The music is composed to evoke images and atmospheres that intertwine
with the choreography, creating a soundscape that invites children to “touch” sound with
their bodies and to express it through movement.
Duration: 40 minutes
Audience: Children aged 2–5 and accompanying adults
Shhh! The touch of Sound is produced by Factory – Compagnia Tansadriatica (Italy) and Stichting Knopen (Netherlands)
Shhh! The Touch of Sound has been shown at:
Mantova, Segni d’ Infanzia October 2025 (preview)
Kids International Festival in Lecce in 2025-2026 and at
Visioni in Bologna in March 2026 (offcial premiere)
Ankara
Manuela Lucia Tessi 