Born in Turin, Dante Testa became one of great exponents of theatre in the Piedmontese language during the late 19th and early 20th-centuries.

In his later years he would open another theatre in Turin called the d'operetta Dante Testa.

[3][4] During his stage career, Testa and his companies performed many works written by leading Piedmontese playwrights of the era, such as Federico Garelli, Mario Leoni, Nino Oxilia, Sandro Camasio and many others.

Among his more memorable roles at Itala was that of Karthalo, the High Priest of Carthage in the 1914 Pastrone directed epic Cabiria.

[3] His last film before his death was in the 1920 drama Terra, directed by his son Eugenio Testa.