University of Florence awards honorary degree to Roberto Bolle

The University of Florence has awarded an honorary master’s degree in Practices, Languages and Cultures of Communication to world-renowned dancer Roberto Bolle, recognizing his exceptional contribution to the art of dance as a powerful form of cultural and human expression.

The ceremony took place yesterday in the Aula Magna of the University’s historic headquarters in Piazza San Marco, where the rector Alessandra Petrucci conferred the academic title on Bolle, étoile of Teatro alla Scala since 2004 and one of the most celebrated figures in international ballet. The event, attended by professors, students, and guests from the cultural world, was also streamed live on the University’s YouTube channel.

In her address, rector Petrucci praised Bolle’s “elegance, athleticism, and expressive refinement,” describing him as an artist “in the truest sense, generous in sharing his talent and experience, the result of hard work and constant dedication.” The laudatio was delivered by Professor Benedetta Baldi, who highlighted how Bolle has turned dance into a language capable of communicating across cultures, emotions, and generations.

The honorary degree motivation underlined his “passionate commitment to enhancing the communicative power of dance,” which has made him “an interpreter of art as a vehicle for culture, emotion, and social connection” and has assigned him “a central role in the cultural and artistic growth of Italy.” The University also noted Bolle’s long-standing relationship with Florence, often chosen as a stage for his performances.

At the end of the ceremony, Bolle gave a lectio magistralis titled “The Body as a Universal Language: Experiences, Values, and Vision of a Life Shaped by Dance.” Visibly moved, he spoke of the responsibility he feels in bringing dance closer to people, particularly younger generations.

“Receiving this degree is a profound emotion,” Bolle said, reflecting on his lifelong mission to make dance accessible and inclusive. He recalled the work of his foundation, which has recently launched a program bringing dance into Milan’s public schools to help children discover discipline, creativity, and respect through movement.

Internationally acclaimed for his performances with the American Ballet Theatre, the Paris Opéra Ballet, the Bolshoi and Mariinsky companies, and the Royal Ballet in London, Bolle has long been an ambassador of Italian artistry on the global stage.

With his television productions, public performances, and charitable initiatives, he has transformed ballet into a shared cultural experience — an art form that, as the University of Florence recognized, “speaks directly to the human spirit through the language of the body.”

A video of the ceremony is embedded on this page with English subtitles provided by YouTube and is also available on the University of Florence’s official YouTube channel.

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