Francesco Paolino

Francesco Paolino is an Italian dancer and choreographer based in Rotterdam. After training at D.A.F. – Dance Arts Faculty in Rome, he is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Dance at Codarts University of the Arts in Rotterdam. As a performer, he has taken part in creations by nationally and internationally renowned choreographers, including Wayne McGregor, Johan Inger, Cayetano Soto, Adriano Bolognino, Ethan Colangelo, and Simone Repele & Sasha Riva. He currently performs with Codarts Dance Company and will join Gauthier Dance JUNIORS from September.
Alongside his work as a performer, he develops his own choreographic practice. In 2024, he received the Second Prize at Premio Roma Danza with the solo I Luoghi dello Spirito, which led to an invitation from choreographer Beate Vollack to create a new work for the Young Choreographers Evening at the Opéra National du Capitole de Toulouse. This collaboration resulted in the duet Nothing Has Hurt Me More in 2025.
His latest creation, MUGA, won both the International Prospettiva Danza Teatro Award and the SoloDuo Festival Award, receiving the Audience Award on both occasions. The work was also selected for the Vetrina della giovane danza d’autore eXtra 2026 and invited to international festivals and platforms including the 25th Certamen Internacional Burgos & Nueva York, 31MASDANZA, Platform 14 Berlin, and Tilburg in Motion Festival.