About Alessandra:

The only woman in the U.S. and in Italy with 45 years of performing and teaching the ancient healing tradition of Tarantella in folk dances and percussion combined with singing. Alessandra Belloni is also the proud receipient of  the  2026 Heritage Fellowship award from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts for life time achievement as a Folk Arts Master.

  • Artistic Director, Founder, and Lead Performer of music, theater, and dance ensemble I GIULLARI DI PIAZZA
  • Artist in Residence at New York City's Cathedral of St. John the Divine
  • A REMO Signature Series Artist with her own line of Italian tambourines
  • Author of the book/DVD Rhythm is the Cure and Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna

LEARN MORE ABOUT ALESSANDRA HERE

 

Alessandra Belloni will air on State of the Arts this week!

 The segment Aired on April 22nd on NJ PBS at 8:30pm, with additional broadcasts throughout the week. 

WATCH HERE!

https://www.pbs.org/video/state-of-the-arts-rhythm-roots-ucoq5s/

This special 8-minute segment features my work as Master Folk Artist, and as recipient of the special NJ FOLK ARTS FELLOWSHIP in 2026! 

 

This program is directed by a brilliant director, Nate Reninga, and produced by Jess Dotson.

 

The director filmed the show with my Italian Folk Music group I GIULLARI DI PIAZZA at the Bronx Heritage Hall, my healing dance and percussion workshop on the tarantella at CMDE in New Jersey, and a special interview at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, where we are artist in residence.

 
State of the Arts: Rhythm & Roots
New Jersey Heritage Fellowships honor artists who preserve cultural traditions. On this special episode, meet three fellows whose work is deeply rooted in ancestral practice and shared experience: Alessandra Belloni, performer and teacher of the ancient healing dance Tarantella; Tyrese Gould Jacinto, Indigenous artist and author, and Neelima Raju, a master of classical Indian Kuchipudi dance. 


 

Alessandra Belloni - Remo Artist

proudly announces her 5th
BLACK MADONNA DRUMMING & DANCE RITUALS & PILGRIMAGE IN SOUTHERN ITALY 2026

Internationally renowned singer, percussionist, teacher, Alessandra Belloni - Remo Artist
Author of amazon best-selling book Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna (Inner Traditions | Bear and Company) 
proudly announces her new 5th


BLACK MADONNA DRUMMING & DANCE RITUALS & PILGRIMAGE 7 WOMEN CHANTS

IN SOUTHERN ITALY 2026

SPECIAL $200 DISCOUNT

July 31 - August 8 
Stay on the Amalfi Coast with Ocean Views at 
Hotel Miramare  

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN -- CLICK HERE!

Write to alessandrabelloni@gmail.com

New Special Feature This Year:

WOMEN SACRED HEALING CHANTS TRADITION

& ITALIAN FRAME DRUM STYLE,

combined with dance with renowned Neapolitan folk singer, percussionist and dancer MARIANNA RICCIARDI


Join us for a

BENEFIT EVENING for

ANIMAL ZONE INTERNATIONAL

I Giullari di Piazza performing

 

TARANTELLA SPIDER DANCE

 

Southern Italian Healing Music and Dances

with Alessandra Belloni, Artistic Director, vocals & percussion

and John La Barbera, Music Director, guitar, mandolin, chitarra battente

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 at 7 pm

School of Visual Arts

214 East 21st Street, New York, NY

This fiery “percussive journey” through Southern Italy and Brazil blends song, dance, and rhythm, exploring magical rituals, tarantellas, healing chants, and ritual drumming Tammorriata, as well as love ballads and the healing trance dance of the Pizzica Tarantata.

I Giullari di Piazza was co–founded in 1980 by Italian-born and award-winning percussionist, singer, dancer, and actress Alessandra Belloni. author of Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna, recipient of a NJ Folk Arts Fellowship as Master Folk Artist, and recently featured on the PBS State of the Arts program (see below); and guitarist John La Barbera, an award-winning composer and recognized as one of the first transcribers of Southern Italian folk music in America.

Also featuring Steve Gorn (saxophone, clarinet, bansuri flutes), Christa Patton (harp, oboe, recorders), Joseph Giannini (vocals, accordion), and dancers Peter Di Geronimo and Mark Mindek (stilt dancer).

TICKETS: $150 ($115 tax deductible)

 

Light refreshments and wine will be served.

 

BUY A TICKET AND SUPPORT AZI

Have the chance to win amazing prizes

at AZI's benefit raffle!

We will be raffling fabulous items during the benefit. Buy more raffle tickets to increase your chance to win! 

Grand Prize: A framed photo of Deerline, 2005 (24”x20”) by Robin Schwartz. Additional prizes will be announced on AZI's website—stay tuned! 

Proudly announcIng first retreat and intensive workshop

in Puglia, the magic land of the tarantula!

SOLD OUT

 THERE ARE SPACES LEFT FOR OUE BLACK MADONNA DRUMMING & DANCE RITUALS

IN SOUTHERN ITALY 2026

Tarantella -- The Spider Dance! healing drumming & dance retreat with special guest musicians from Puglia!

June 27 to July 5 2026

WE WILL BE DOING THIS TRIP THIS YEAR IN PLACE OF SICILY

 
Dear Friends and Students,
Thanks to my friend and longtime collaborator, wonderful musician GIOVANNANGELO DE GENNARO and spiritual brother, who was a special guest in our concert in New York at St. John the Divine last year, and many times before, since 1993! we will lead
TARANTELLA - SPIDER DANCE- healing drumming & dance on
The Tarantismo and Pizzica tradition from Puglia,
in a beautiful VILLA, in the land of the famous magical Trulli,
celebrating the Feast of the Tarantati on June 29th!
In an olive grove in Cisternino, near beach town of Ostuni (irpiorts Bari & Brindisi)
For a long time I have dreamed to hold this retreat workshop in Puglia, where I spent many years back in the 80s and 90s studying the pizzica & tarantismo also in my books, especially in ancient feast of the Tarantula and Tarantati on June 29th!
I wrote & directed the special musical that I wrote and directed 'TARANTELLA SPIDER DANCE- an off broadway production that received critical acclaim in New York City & Los Angeles performed to sold out audiences for many years.
I have also led healing dance & percussion workshops around the world, healing mainly women through the trance dance of the pizzica tarantata, used to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula, a form of depression that afflicted mainly women known as tarantate. More to be found on my webiste and on youtube. www.alessandrabelloni.com
We will hold this first intensive retreat workshop with our host Giovannangelo de Gennaro, wonderful singer, multinstrumentalist and spiritual leader.
Special featured world renouned guest artists:
MASSIMILIANO MORABITO & GIANCARLO PAGLIALUNGA
from the world-famous group
CANZONIERE GRECANICO SALENTINO- CGS
Scholars and best performers of pizzica traditions!
SPECIAL PIZZICA dance classes with renowned dancers from Puglia:
Andrea de Siena and Floriana Guida and her partner Ciro
 
IMPORTANT NOTE:
ONLY 1 SPACE AVAILABLE! ALL SINGLE ROOMS ARE SOLD OUT
 
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED please get in touch ASAP -- & send registration of $300 plus depost of $1000! 
 

Register Here

 
TO HOLD YOUR SPACE AT THE VILLA.
Payment options for making the Deposit:
PAYPAL: blackmadonnacenter@gmail.com
VENMO @Alessandra-Belloni
TOTAL COST:
$3,200 after March 1st. ($3,500 for single room, sold out)
HOTEL & WORKSHOP DEPOSIT OF $1,000 = $300 Registration Fee DUE NOW, to be deducted from the total cost.
•Accommodations 
• 4 double rooms, in the beautiful trulli
• Wonderful local delicious food -- 2 to 3 meals a day
• Local transport, airport pickup and dropoff
• Daily drumming, singing, and dancing workshops with master musicians and dancers
• Excursions to the beautiful nearby beach town of Ostuni
• The Cave of Saint Michael the Archangel in magical Gargano
• SPECIAL FEATURE JOURNEY TO fTHE FAMOUS TOWN OF GALATINA on June 29 FEAST OF THE TARANTATI ancient night of the tarrantula!
BOOK NOW IF YOU WANT TO COME! SELLING OUT FAST !
For more information, email
alessandrabelloni@gmail.com,
or blackmadonnacenter@gmail.com

First Time Ever:

Alessandra teaches ONLINE LIVESTREAM CLASS

during the Black Madonna Pilgrimage in Campania!

TWO SPACES still available for the Campania Tour!

Dear friends and fans around the world,

 

I am very happy to share that I just came back from a great and powerful experience, teaching the PIZZICA TARANTATA SPIDER DANCE RITUAL in Glastonbury, England, as part of the ceremony UNBOUND, hosted by best-selling author and healer Rebecca Campbell.

Happy to share also, that my award-winning documentary that I wrote and produced, Musical Journeys with the Black Madonna in Southern Italy, directed by Francesco Piccolo with music by composer and guitarist John La Barbera, was shown in London on July 13th, at Regents University in Regents Park, hosted by ALTERNATIVES UK, Director Venetia David.

 

VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME,

I will offer

TWO SPECIAL ONLINE LIVESTREAM CLASSES

during my

WORKSHOP AND PILGRIMAGE on the AMALFI COAST!

together with my co-teacher NANDO CITARELLA,

Neapolitan singer and percussionist

 

August 1st, 10:30 am to 1:00 pm Eastern time

(17:00 pm Italy time)

and

August 2nd, 10:30 am to 1:00 pm Eastern time

(17:00 pm Italy time)

 

I will also offer a special talk about the history and traditions of the Black Madonnas and my documentary film.

 


MORE ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS

This workshop will be a full immersion into the ancient drumming traditions and devotional chants in honor of the Black Madonna, which can only be truly experienced in the sacred mountains and healing waters of the Mother Land. This powerful journey will introduce and transport students to a time and place where an unbroken and ancient tradition continues today with folk music, processions, devotional drumming, and dance.

 

Following Alessandra Belloni's vision as part of the Black Madonna Center, this summer students will have the special opportunity to study and tour the area of Naples in the region of Campania.

 

Special Guest Teacher Nando Citarella from Naples!

 

We will be joined by internationally-renowned Neapolitan folk musician, classical singer, and percussionist teacher Nando Citarella. Alessandra's longtime collaborator and friend, he is one of the most important and well-known figures in the revival of Southern Italian Folk Music. Find more at www.NandoCitarella.it.

 

Alessandra Belloni will take you inside the heart of this land, sharing her knowledge, and giving you an authentic, local experience.

 

Registration $60

VENMO Alessandra Belloni

or PAYPAL at blackmadonnacenter@gmail.com

or ZELLE (646) 322-4637

 

You will receive a Zoom link after you register.

Sessions will be recorded.

 

I hope my students from around the world will join us online for the first time from ITALY! Blessings to all!

 

Alessandra Belloni

SUMMER TOURS IN ITALY --

WORKSHOP NOW LIVE FROM AMALFI COAST!

 

August 1st & 2nd: Ritual drumming, singing & dance Workshop

 

During these workshops on the stunning Amalfi Coast, students will study the basic Italian tambourine and frame drumming techniques of the Tammurriata 4/4 rhythm in honor of the Black Madonna.

 

These powerful workshops will include the special collaboration with folk musician, percussionist, and Neapolitan singer Nando Citarella, who will guide students in learning traditional drumming, chanting, and dance.

 

Alessandra and Nando will introduce the ancient style of rhythm and dance known as the Tammurriata, which dates back to the rites of the Mother Earth Goddess Cybele -- protector also of all gay and transgender people -- and the Egyptian Goddess Isis, both of whom are now worshipped as the Black Madonna all over the South of Italy.

 

Alessandra and Nando will also lead participatory chants of devotion to the Sun (Jesce Sole), an ancient healing chant using the Lydian Scale or Neapolitan Scales, as well as authentic chants and prayers.

 

These workshops will take place during the days and some evenings in improvisational Neapolitan style.

 


I have just finished my sold-out Black Madonna Pilgrimage in Sicily -- but there are still TWO SPACES AVAILABLE for the Pilgrimage and workshops in the region of Naples from July 31 to August 8.

 

See link here and email me for more details, at:

https://alessandrabelloni.com/black-madonna-drumming-dance-rituals-pilgrimage-in-southern-italy-2025

 

alessandrabelloni@gmail.com or blackmadonnacenter@gmail.com


The World Needs Healing !

Join Internationally renowned singer, percussionist,

teacher, author Alessandra Belloni -

Remo Artist & the BLACK MADONNA CENTER

In this Special Online Series,

Now Available Again on TEACHABLE:

THE VOYAGE OF THE BLACK MADONNA

A VIRTUAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE SACRED SITES

OF THE BLACK MADONNA IN SOUTHERN ITALY

Written, narrated, produced & directed by Alessandra Belloni

Copyright (c) Alessandra Belloni 1991-2019-2021

 

An immersive journey into the musical & healing traditions of Southern Italy & the Black Madonnas' sacred sites in the regions of CAMPANIA, SICILY, CALABRIA, BASILICATA

Including: 8 Episodes - 3 hours of video series & lectures,

plus lyrics to the sacred chants in honor of the Black Madonna

 

Based on Alessandra's book Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna

published by Inner Traditions (2019), with preface by

best-selling author Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox

Happy to share the book is still a best-seller on Amazon, under Dance!

 

Click HERE to register and download THE VIDEO SERIES

as an online course through TEACHABLE for only $200

 

Also available on Teachable: Alessandra's Beginning Southern Italian Fram Drum in Honor of the Black Madonna. Normally sold separately for $150, Get both courses as a Bundle for $300 !

MORE INFORMATION ON BOTH COURSES HERE!

Read About Alessandra's Best Selling Book:

THE HEALING JOURNEYS WITH THE BLACK MADONNA  

Published by Inner Traditions, with a foreword by bestselling author Matthew Fox, Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna is rated 5 stars on Amazon and has been No. 1 best selling in new releases under the categories of "Folk Dancing" and "Suggested Gifts"! 

Sharing her more than 35 years of research and fieldwork at sacred sites around the world, Belloni takes you on a mystical pilgrimage of empowerment, initiation, and transformation with the Black Madonna. 

An experiential guide to the ancient healing rituals of the Black Madonna:
• Reveals the practices and rites of the still-living cult of the Black Madonna in the remote villages of Southern Italy, including the healing rites of the tarantella dance
• Details shamanic chants, rhythms, and songs and how to use them for self-healing, transformation, and recovery from abuse, trauma, depression, and addiction
• Explores the many sacred sites of the Madonnas and connects them to other Great Goddesses, such as Isis, Aphrodite, Cybeles, and the Orisha Yemanja and Ochun
• Includes access to 12 audio tracks

Order now! 

Order on Amazon 

Order on Barnes and Noble 

Order as an Audiobook 

Learn more

 

Read Alessandra Belloni's Best Selling Book Healing Journey's with the Black Madonna TODAY! 

NOW AVAILABLE IN FRENCH! 

Alessandra is proud to announce that her book HEALING JOURNEYS WITH THE BLACK MADONNA published by Inner Traditions Bear & company (a best seller on Amazon under dance) is now being published in France, translated into French by a great Publisher, LE DUC with preface by brilliant writer and teacher Marianne Grasselli.

LA VIERGE NOIRE (The Black Virgin) Rituels de Guerison de la Grande diesse. 

https://espritdefemme.ch/les-vierges-noires/ 

https://www.editionsleduc.com/produit/2577/9791028522278/voies-de-guerison-avec-la-vierge-noire?fbclid=IwAR3T42PStTqqwwAr8_zpxWM5Etj9dPp6VQv1DZL_pY8-PzxMrbxi1Y09MFk

WE NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT

Donate to Our Campaign to Preserve Our Legacy for Future Generations

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT ALESSANDRA BELLONI AND THE BLACK MADONNA CENTER FUNDRAISER TODAY

(All Donations are Tax Deductible)

YOUR FUNDING WILL HELP US TO:

• Preserve 45 years of photos, videos, music scores, folk operas, promotional posters, program playbills, and past recordings from vinyl, cassettes, and CDs, including solo works by individual members of I Giullari di Piazza — into a digitized Master Archive;\

• Present and produce new live performances and complete ongoing projects;

• Fund educational pilgrimages and workshops in Campania, Sicily, and beyond;

• Pay adequate artists’ fees, technical crew, and administrative costs for a cast of 5 to 12 artists (depending on the scope of productions); and professional marketing personnel; and . . . .

• Our Magnum Opus: Establish officially the very first Folkloric School & Black Madonna Mystery School. To perpetuate the legacy of our deep studies, wisdom, heritage, and traditions of the Black Madonna, the school will offer TEACHER TRAINING: An intensive 3- to 6-month program with final certification, allowing the candidates to share the legacy of Alessandra’s work and passion.

 

OUR GOAL

We need to raise $7,000 by the end of 2025 so that we can continue this important work, to keep our programs alive and thriving, and to continue to inspire and heal future generations.

Please give what you can and share this campaign widely. Together, we can keep the voice of the Black Madonna and Southern Italy's healing dances and folk traditions alive.

CLICK HERE TO CONTRIBUTE via GoFundMe

I Giullari di Piazza is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

 

Please consider keeping art alive by supporting I GIULLARI DI PIAZZA a non profit organization under the 501 c-3 code by clicking on the gofund me campaign above!

Enter your email address