Alessandra Belloni

RHYTHM IS THE CURE A Healing Dance and Percussion Workshop http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mR410cTt4Y&feature=share&list=PL90C87419399B6C55 by Alessandra Belloni REMO Signature Series Artist Saturday December 8 from 2 to 6pm, Saturday December 15 from to 6 pm and Sunday December 16 from 2 to 6 pm. The cost is $ 60.00 per class or $ 100 for 2 classes. You can register by emailing me atABelloni@aol.com or with paypal.   From the Ancient Mediterranean to today, Alessandra Belloni conducts this world renowned workshop for Women…( New York Open Center, Findhorn Foundation, Scotland , Glastonbury Goddess Festival, Annual Workshop in Tuscany, Italy, and in California, Brazil, Australia, always transforming the lives of many women… In this workshop featuring Southern Italian folk dances and rituals we will learn chants used to invoke the healing power of the sun and moon, as well as a repertoire of therapeutic dances, accompanied by the beat of Frame drums and tambourines. Alessandra presents these unique dance movements which trace their roots from Southern Italy back to ancient Greece, with connections to Iran, Egypt and Andalusia, as well as to the traditions of the Gypsies who traveled from Rajasthan through North Africa, Morocco and Spain to Sicily and Calabria.   THE OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP ARE: --To introduce the participants to the rich rhythm and dance tradition of Southern Italy known as the tarantella, an ancient form of music and dance therapy used to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula. --To learn the history of this powerful tambourine style, originally done mainly by women, which dates back to the rites of the Mother Earth Goddess Cybele, now worshiped as the Black Madonna. --To bring women back in touch with their lost drumming tradition. --To learn the powerful Italian tamburello technique and to come to understand the healing and stress-relieving effect of these rhythms and dances. --To make the participants feel part of community-healing rituals as they use their bodies in movements that help open the energy points such as the Heart Chakra-by holding the frame drum close to the heart-and the Root Chakra-by doing movements that help participants stay grounded. --To release blockages of emotional and sensual energies through the Pizzica dance of liberation, therefore expelling any feelings of depression and repression.   Students will learn the following ritual dances and rhythms: TAMMORRIATA - This is a beautiful, sensual dance from Naples danced with castanets to the rhythm of the large drum, called Tammorra. The movements and rhythm are set to an African beat played in 4/4 time. This powerful dance is done during the rituals held in the summerin honor of the black Madonna, originally ancient rites for the Earth Goddess Cybele. THE PIZZICA TARANTATA - The wild 6/8 rhythm of the Pizzica, played on medium size tambourines and accompanied by dance and song, was performed as an exorcism ritual that produced a trance-like state beneficial for healing many mental-health disorders and imbalances. As part of a re-enactment of this healing ritual, Alessandra will lead the participants in a circle dance where they'll create "spider-like" movements on the ground, releasing stress and blockages of sexual energy, as well as opening the heart and throat chakras. RITMO E DANZA DI SAN ROCCO (SPINNING DANCE) - This dance, originating in Calabria during the Middle Ages. It was danced during the time of the plague to help people release the overpowering fear of death. Due to the trance-inducing movements and incessant spinning, many people enter ecstatic states during this dance, similar to the Whirling Dervish ceremonies. TARANTELLA ALLA MONTEMARANESE - A fun Carnevale dance in honor of Baccus, god of wine and ecstasy, the Tarantella alla Montemaranese is danced in a circle to a very syncopated 6/8 rhythm while wearing masks and playing castanets. Alessandra ends the sessions ends using the ocean creating the sound of waves in a final relaxation invoking ht healing power of the water. TARANTELLA DE’ 600 – This is a Renaissance folk dance which is done in pairs which is very popular in Italy and throughout the Mediterranean. It contains both fast, energetic steps and combined arm and leg movements which improve coordination. This invigorating dance had been called by Alessandra’s students ‘Italian Aerobics”. Participants are encouraged to wear white and red, and women to wear skirts.