In 2022, I began traveling to Southern Italy in search of all I could find related to ongoing traditional dance practices, initially drawn to information I learned about the pizzica in books and online. That search led me into an entirely new world: that of the music and community that surrounds regional tarantelle dances.
Puglia Residency
In 2024, I brought to life the dream of creating a bridge between guests to Puglia and the local music community through La Danza Residency, in collaboration with the artistic direction of Rosa Voto, of the Melbourne School of Tarantella. The 2025 Edition will be held in the city of Galatina September 23-29, and registration is now open. This experience is designed for folks who want to come to the homelands of these dances and dive into experiencing them in their revival community, learning directly from local artists and tradition holders.
Writing
You can find my reflections on this journey on my substack.
Workshops in the United States
While steering away from seeing myself as teacher in a formal sense, over time I have come to develop my voice in sharing the stories and movements I have experienced through the dances in their cultural contexts. I offer classes & workshops from that perspective when I am outside of Italy. The theme of these workshops is to parse through the stereotypes and generalized notions of these dances and restore an awareness of regionality and rhythmic movements.
Seattle Area Class
Tarantelle — Social Folk Dances from the South of Italy
October - December
Saturdays at 11:30am
Edmonds, Washington
Register Here
"The care, rootedness, and thoughtfulness that Kate brings to her own learning and teaching was apparent. ... Kate's commitment to syncing her dance work back to local traditions is paramount in her dance instruction." - Monica Berini
"The class was engaging, and fun. Presenting a rich appreciation for the subject matter, and approaching teaching a deep and important lineage in a very humble way. All attendees seemed to have felt extremely comfortable trying everything that was taught, which speaks highly to the quality of instruction. The entire room was full of smiles and openness, which again, particularly in a fairly physically intense dance class is rare." - via Scuola Italiana di Portland
Past Workshops: