Join me this May, in collaboration with Lisa Fazio, Marybeth Bonfiglio, and Mike LoBello, for an exploration of communal dances from Southern Italy, commonly referred to as tarantella/e...

Immense Cultural Diversity

We’ll deconstruct the idea of a singular or stereotypical “tarantella” and tune our ear to hear the qualities of different rhythm families as we learn and embody characteristics of their movements.

Profound Depth

Within any given dance name, there is an entire world of variation, nuance, and meaning. Far from a monolith, every region, town, and family has their own ways, and every person therein their own relationship. 

To understand this reality, we’ll examine the pizzica pizzica up close, grounded in stories and oral tradition from Puglia.

Folk Dances Popolare Dances

We’ll look at the specification used in Italian language to refer to dances that are held within living traditions, and what the cultural reality that distinction itself represents. These dances are learned and danced as a factor of identity and human connection, using local codes filled with meaning, rather than choreography. 

Modern Dynamics

We’ll take a look at the ripples of revival that have brought these dances to stages & studios, allowed them to become known outside of their immediate communities, and drawn people to their homelands for huge festivals. We’ll examine the complexity that this can add, considering many perspectives.

Above All, Humility

The songs and dances continue to exist because they are cared for deeply in their homes. They exist because of generations of pastoral communities who passed them on, as well as researchers and artists who have listened deeply. We will learn and dance with gratitude, and with awareness of our lens – and the space between seeking and living.