Join me this January, for my first-ever two day gathering exploring communal dance traditions from Southern Italy, hosted by Andrea Esajian. 

We'll orient into experiencing these dances through a lens of...

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.

PROGRAM

January 9th 

We'll spend the first day studying the geography of dance in Southern Italy, where dances are held as part of living traditions that carry identity and shared meaning. Deconstructing the idea of a singular or stereotypical “tarantella," we'll tune our ear to the qualities of different rhythm families to learn the dynamics and qualities of dances from cultures in Puglia, Campania, and Calabria.

9am - 10am Arrival and Breakfast Spread (with orange juicing station by the orange trees!)

10am - 11am Morning Movement: Tarantelle

11am - 1pm Exploring: Dances & Places

1 - 2:30pm Lunch Together (sandwiches if you sign up for meals)

2:30 - 3:30pm Reorienting & Herbal Tea Making with Andrea

3:30 - 6pm Tarantelle Workshop

6pm Dinner Together (tacos together if you sign up for meals)

January 10th

The second day, we'll focus on the "ludic" or social-playful pizzica pizzica danced today in Puglia, diving into the rhythms, codes, movements, and partner dynamic of the social dance. We'll also identify the connection in land and lineage with the pizzica tarantata music and dance of tarantismo rites as practiced through the early-mid 1900s. 

9am - 10am Arrival and Breakfast Spread (with orange juicing station by the orange trees!)

10am - 11am Morning Movement: Pizzica

11am - 1pm Exploring: The Pizzica Pizzica

1 - 2:30pm Lunch Together ("Sunday Sauce" meal from host Andrea if you sign up for meals)

2:30 - 3:30pm Reorienting & Herbal Tea Making with Andrea

3:30 - 6pm Pizzica Workshop

COST

$350 early bird through November 15 

(sliding scale $250 - $450)

Breakfast spread included in registration. With two lunches and dinners + $50

$425 standard (sliding scale $350 - $500)

Breakfast spread included in registration. With two lunches and dinners + $50

If cost is a barrier please reach out and we'll see what we can organize; within the limits of expenses and time being covered, we aim to not turn anyone away for lack of funds.

This is a grassroots event with travel and rental expenses involved, and your registration makes it happen! Refunds are available until November 15th minus an administrative/transaction fee of up to 15%

Nearby Accommodations

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe ~$500/night, 10min away

Inn at Moonlight Beach ~$500/night, 15min away

Hampton Inn Cardiff Beach ~$350/night, 15min away

Best Western Del Mar ~$250/night, 25min from house 

You can also find Airbnbs in the area.

If housing is a barrier to joining please reach out. There is limited low cost on-site housing available, which we would like to prioritize for folks who wouldn't be able to join without that option.