To honor goddesses of Italy and Brazil

Two events presented by Alessandra Belloni:

Southern Italian Gypsy Music and Ritual Dance
Friday July 9, 9pm

Mehanata Bulgarian Bar
113 Ludlow (between Rivington & Delancey), Manhattan
212-625-0981

A fiery "journey" through the South of Italy featuring magic rituals and tarantellas used as music therapy and exorcism, healing chants in honor of the Black Madonna, lullabies, and love ballads, as well as original songs by Alessandra Belloni inspired by the rituals and rhythms of Brazil. Featuring Alessandra Belloni, vocals, percussion and ritual dance, drummer Vinnie Scialla, guest violinist Susan Aquila, acoustic and electric violin, guitarist Wilson Montuori.

Honoring the Sea Goddess: A Very Special Women Drumming and Dance Celebration
Friday July 16, 8pm

The New York Open Center
22 East 30th Street, Manhattan
212-219-2527

The concert is inspired by two geographically distant but thematically parallel traditions. Southern Italian and Brazilian purification rites and procession performed in the summer to honor the archetypical sea goddess. In Brazil she comes from the West African Yoruba culture and is called Yemanja, in Italy she is called the Black Madonna of the Sea (once called Aphrodite).

For further information on these and other events on Belloni's schedule, visit her website.

Listen to my 2007 Body and Soul podcast interview with Belloni (iTunes).

Get rhythm with Alessandra Belloni

Body and Soul podcast interviewee Alessandra Belloni presents her workshop, Rhythm is The Cure at the New York Open Center, Sunday, April 6 (10am-5pm).

New York Open Center
83 Spring St # 1, Soho, Manhattan
212-219-9635

Admission: Open Center Members: $120 / Nonmembers: $130

email: aracelybrown@yahoo.com

Southern Italian folk dances and rituals are joyous and healing forms of music and dance therapy. In this workshop, we’ll learn ancient Neapolitan chants used to invoke the healing power of the sun and to honor the Black Madonna. In this way we request miracles and healing in our lives. A central part of the workshop will be learning the dance Pizzica Tarantata, which originated as a ritual to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula. In the Pizzica students will dance inside a circle of tambourine players. Each student will take a turn inside the circle, learning the fast steps and wild rhythms of the Pizzica. Part of the ritual takes place on the floor—on a white sheet, surrounded by red ribbons—and the dance involves spider-like movements, as if emerging from a spider web. We’ll also learn the Tammurriata, a sensual dance from Naples, and a Calabrian spinning dance similar to trance-inducing movements of Sufi dances. We’ll experience how dance, drumming and music allow us to release anxiety, relax sexual blocks, open the heart and liberate our expression. This brings the mind and body into a state of total relaxation.

Note: Participants will be barefoot. Women should wear skirts, and, if possible, everyone should wear white clothes. Please do not wear black. Tambourines will be provided, but you may bring your own.

Bright greetings: A blazing 2008

Thanks so much for your support of InfiniteBody blog and Body and Soul podcast. In 2008, may our passion for dance light up the world. Wishing you all the best in the new year!

Eva :-)



Firedancer Antonio Fini in a scene from Alessandra Belloni's Tarantella--Spider Dance, Theater for the New City, December 2007

Alessandra Belloni--Magic of Southern Italy

I conducted this interview in July with Alessandra Belloni about her work with the tarantella and other ritual folk dance and music of Southern Italy. See her "Spider Dance" show at Theater for the New City, December 21-23, 2007. Visit http://www.alessandrabelloni.com.

MP3 File

Body and Soul dance podcast returns

I'm delighted to announce that Body and Soul will return as the official podcast of InfiniteBody dance blog, with archived interviews of dancers, choreographers and other advocates for dance as well as brand new material, including occasional reviews and commentary. Now independently produced, Body and Soul episodes will be available through this blog and downloadable through iTunes.

You'll find an interview I conducted this summer with musician and dancer Alessandra Belloni about her work with the tarantella and other ritual folk dance and music of Southern Italy. Alessandra will be bringing her "Spider Dance" show to Theater for the New City, December 21-23.

To subscribe to the new Body and Soul podcast, click here:

Alessandra Belloni interview on Great Dance Podcast

clipped from greatdance.com

Visit Great Dance Podcast for my audio interview with dancer-musician Alessandra Belloni who specializes in the healing ritual dances and music of Southern Italy.

If you like what you hear, please leave a comment on the Great Dance Podcast page. I greatly appreciate your support. And remember to subscribe to Great Dance Podcast by clicking on the orange button.

Thanks!
Eva Yaa Asantewaa