If you spend a few days in Romagna, you won’t escape that melody that seems to belong to every square and dance hall: “Romagna mia, Romagna in bloom, you are the star, you are the love…”. It’s liscio, the dance that has set generations of Romagnoli in motion and that has entered the very heart of this land.
Born between the late 19th century and the early decades of the 20th, Romagna’s liscio owes its origins to the violinist Carlo Brighi, known as Zaclén. Later, Secondo Casadei, nicknamed “the Strauss of Romagna,” brought it fame thanks to immortal songs like Romagna mia, which made all of Italy dance.
Liscio includes three main dances: waltz, mazurka, and polka. Although these melodies are not of Italian origin, here they are performed with typically variations from Romagna, creating a unique, radiant, and festive style. The dancers’ movements — gliding and sliding their feet — gave the dance its very name: liscio (“smooth”).
The music that accompanies the dance
Traditionally, liscio is performed by an orchestra of soloists with violin, C clarinet, and saxophone, accompanied by bass, guitar, and drums. Over time, singers joined the musicians, able to warm up the atmosphere and lead the rhythm of the dance halls.
Even today, the Casadei family carries on this tradition: Riccarda and Raoul Casadei take part in events such as the Notte del Liscio (“Night of Liscio”), which every June enlivens the Romagna Riviera with live concerts and dancing.
A heritage of rhythm and folklore
Liscio is not just dance music, it is a form of popular art that crosses generations. Its cheerful and brilliant character, sustained by the strong rhythm of bass and drums, blends instruments and voice into a sound that is immediately recognizable and deeply tied to Romagna.
With hands on a partner’s shoulders, feet gliding across the parquet floor, and the violin setting the tempo, liscio tells stories of town squares, festivals, and a living tradition — ready to make anyone smile and move who wishes to be swept along.
