combined with dance with renowned Neapolitan folk singer, percussionist and dancer MARIANNA RICCIARDI
Marianna Ricciardi, singer and percussionist from the Campania region began exploring the world of traditional music as a teenager, joining various groups and performing in many countries.
Her passion for singing is deeply rooted in the devotional songs, especially those connected to the cult of the Madonna, learned directly from women and in the sanctuaries of southern Italy.
In addition to her vocal work, she is also a player of frame drums and her artistic expression is further enriched by dance, tammurriata and Cilentana tarantella, typical of her native area. Music, devotion and dance come together in her art, creating a unique experience that celebrates the richness of southern Italy's folk tradition.
This workshop/pilgrimage will be a deep immersion in the ancient drumming traditions and devotional chants in Honor of the Black Madonna to be fully experienced in the sacred mountains and healing waters of the Italian Mother Land.
SPECIAL FEATURE:
The Italian frame drums and the sacred chants for the Black Madonna are part of an ancient pre-Christian Women tradition, and this year we will focus on the healing aspect of the Divine Feminine with special guest co-teacher, Neapolitan singer, drummer and dancer MARIANNA RICCIARDI.
Alessandra and Marianna will also lead participatory chants of devotion to the Sun (Jesce Sole), an ancient women healing chant using the Lydian Scale or Neapolitan Scale, as well as authentic chants and prayers to the Black Madonna of Montevergine, Madonna Avvocata, and Madonna della Libera.
As featured in Alessandra's book Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna, students will be taken on short pilgrimages to sacred sites of the Black Madonna, in a journey where an unbroken and ancient tradition continues today with folk music, processions, devotional drumming, and dance.
1. La Madonna Avvocata on a beautiful mountain on the Amalfi Coast
2. The Black Madonna of Positano
3. Feast of the Black Madonna della Neve (August 5th)
4. The Black Madonna of Montevergine, Avellino (protector of gays and transgenders)
5. Madonna della Libera, Our Lady of Freedom, Moiano (Benevento)
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 Marianna Ricciardi, who will guide students in learning traditional drumming, chanting, and dance. Alessandra and Marianna 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 all of gay and transgender people – and the Egyptian Goddess Isis, both of whom are now worshiped as the Black Madonna all over the South of Italy.
AUGUST 3rd - VISIT TO THE BLACK MADONNA DELL’ AVVOCATA
Special visit up the Mountains over Amalfi to la Madonna Avvocata, Somma Veusviana, Tramonti – great feast of food wine drumming and dance with musical group Isidoro & La Paranza dei Tramonti.
August 4th VISIT TO LA MADONNA DI POSITANO
This is the most beautiful town in the Amalfi Coast, where the Goddess Aphrodite was worshipped in ancient times.
August 5th FEAST OF THE BLACK MADONNA DELLA NEVE
In Torre Annunziata/Pompei We’ll catch amazing moments of the unique re-enactment of the discovery and fishing of the Black Madonna, originally found in a large cage in the sea in the year 1350. This feast is held at sunset by sea near the Vesuvius with boats following the Madonna in procession along the coast, blessing the water and the town. This is an ancient ceremony with origins in the worship of the Goddess Aphrodite, and the African Orisha Yemanja, Goddess of Love and the Sea.
August 6th VISIT TO THE BLACK MADONNA OF MONTEVERGINE
In the region of Irpinia, we will visit the BLACK MADONNA OF MONTEVERGINE, who is considered the most important of the seven sisters accompanied by the drumming and chanting of Marianna Ricciardi and Alessandra Belloni. This beautiful Black Madonna known as MAMMA SCHIAVONA, is worshipped in the ancient sacred site of the Earth Goddess Cybele. She continues to be venerated on a high sacred mountain, which pilgrims still climb barefoot today chanting and drumming in her honor. Here the rites of Cybele and Attis, and the transgender people’s devotion to the “femminielli” (young women) was popular in pre-christian times as they are today.
August 7th VISIT TO THE MADONNA DELLA LIBERA
Will end with a visit to the MADONNA DELLA LIBERA, our Lady of Freedom, near Benevento. This is a beautiful and powerful statue which has direct origins to the Egyptian Goddess Isis, as that area, known as Irpinia, was a settlement of the ancient Egyptian with a wide spread worship of Isis, the one who is really the ‘FIRST BLACK MADONNA AND CHILD.
August 8th - Check out from the hotel and departure from Naples.
HOTEL MIRAMARE (Address: Corso Garibaldi, 1 Castellammare di Stabia) - Arrival July 31st check out August 6th near the Amalfi coast. (4 star)
HOTEL DE LA VILLE (Address: Via Palatucci 20, Avellino) - Arrival August 6th Check out August 8th - located in the mountains of Avellino. (4 star)
Total Cost Includes:
8-night Hotel cost
2 meals a day
All Drumming and Dance workshop curriculums and performances
Witness the legendary saga of I Giullari di Piazza as they return to where it all began!
Join co-founders Alessandra Belloni and John La Barbera for a spectacular, one-night-only event detailing the company's vibrant 45-year history. This isn't just a retrospective; it's a Commedia dell’Arte story, rich with the passion, rhythm, and daring spirit of Southern Italian folk opera and theater.
For the first time ever, thanks to Professor Stefano Albertini, Director of Casa italiana, this unforgettable evening will reveal the group's evolution starting from a bold dream in the mythical '70s.
We're not just looking back; we're unveiling the future! Hear the details of the ambitious project to transform 45 years of priceless archival material—from vinyl, scores, and posters to folk operas—into a digitized Master Archive!
Let's get the poison out of our body with the Tarantella as Musical Exorcism for Halloween!
Experience the healing power of Tarantella rhythms and dance with internationally renowned singer, percussionist, and teacher, Alessandra Belloni (author of "Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna," published by Inner Traditions - Bear & Co).
The workshop features the tarantella dances and frame drum technique used as music and dance therapy for centuries throughout the Mediterranean. unique style of tambourine playing and the ancient healing trance dance of the tarantella, used to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula.
This workshop will give people the means to fortify themselves against daily stresses. Students will become empowered through discovery of the ancient art of frame drumming and a technique of music and dance therapy that will enable them to discover the means to achieve homeostatic balance and inner relief of stress, while restoring spiritual and physical energy.
This concert is a fiery "journey" through the South of Italy featuring ceremonial dances performed as ritual by the women of Southern Italy as processional chants and ritual drumming in honor of the Black Madonna, known as: Tammorriata, from Naples, and other dances such as the tarantella Calabrese, Pugliese and Napoletana.
The music comes from different regions of Italy, mainly Naples, Calabria, Sicily, Puglia and it has been arranged with a very unique world music sound. The performance ends with the authentic Pizzzica Tarantata, the healing dance from Puglia used to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula, a form of depression that afflicted mainly women. At the end of our concert we invite the audience to dance the tarantella or “pizzica” in a celebration of life and good energy unique of the Italians using red ribbons in a circle.
Ensemble Includes:
Alessandra Belloni - Artistic Director, lead vocals, percussion ritualdance
John La Barbera - Music Director, composer, guitar chitarrabattente, mandolin
Sebastian La Barbera - mandolin, guitar
Featuring dancer Amara
