Alessandra Belloni

Celebrate Women History Month with  ALESSANDRA BELLONI  Internationally renowned Singer, dancer, percussionist Artist in residence at the Cathedral of St John the Divine RHYTHM IS THE CURE Dance & percussion workshops with healing power of the Tarantella trance rhythms     At cathedral of St John the Divine – 1047 Amsterdam Avenuenear 112th Street. Saturdays from 2 :00pm to 4:00pm March 2nd, 16th, 23rd , April 13 –fee $ 300, for registration email Kevin Bloom at KBlum@stjohndivine.org or Abelloni@aol.com This seminar shall give people the means to fortify themselves against daily stresses. Students shall become empowered through discovery of the ancient art of frame drumming and a technique of music and dance therapy that shall enable them to discover the means to achieve homeostatic balance and inner relief of stress, while restoring spiritual and physical energy. Each class is designed to follow the method described in her book/dvd Rhythm is the Cure. This enables students to continue their studies independently after the course is complete. The course consists of four two-hour classes. Students shall begin each session with an hour of drumming followed by an hour of dance. Students will learn the variations of the basic 6/8 rhythm of the Tarantella that originated as music and dance therapy to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula. The dance movements represent an unbroken chain of inspiration from pre-Christian times to the present. They embody and culminate the different dance traditions that we know today as Flamenco, Belly Dance, and Tribal Dance. Students will also learn the Tammorriata, an elegant and sensual dance from Naples performed by couples playing castanets to the rhythm of a large drum, called the Tammorra. The Tammorriata is based upon an improvisational style of drumming and singing usually enacted during the summer rituals in honor of the ancient Earth Goddess Cybele, and now worshipped as the Black Madonna.  THE PIZZICA TARANTATA - The wild 6/8 rhythm of the Pizzica, played on medium size tambourines and accompanied by dance and song, a haling trance dancefor many mental-health disorders and imbalances., done mainly by women, who fufered from depression known as tarantismo. 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. 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 the 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”. c/o Cathedral of St. John The Divine1047 Amsterdam Ave.New York NY 10025www.alessandrabelloni.comwww.youtube.com/alessandrabelloni(646) 322-4637