Alessandra Belloni

Feb 25th, 2014. 7-9pm

Percussion Penthouse 13th floor. 

35 west 4th street

NYC NY 10003

 

INTERNATIONALLY RENOUWED SINGER, PERCUSSIONIST DANCER

ALESSANDRA BELLONI

REMO Signature Series Artist – presents:

 

TARANTELLA RHYTHMS HANDS-ON TAMBOURINE & FRAME DRUM WORKSHOP

including special  arrangements for tarantella on marimba

 with drummer/percussionist Peter Abazia 

Taught by Alessandra Belloni

REMO Signature Series Artist

 

Alessandra Belloni is the only woman in America (and in Italy) who uses this powerful tambourine style combined with the singing and dancing, and she’s very proud to be able to bring this ancient healing women tradition back to life.

She’s also a REMO Artist, with her own line of signature series tambourines made by REMO.

The purpose of this workshop is to introduce general audiences to a very rich tambourine and folk dance culture with an active current performance practice inSouthern Italy.

 

During the percussion workshop, the participants will learn:

• The basic technique of holding the drum, with emphasis on arm movement, wrist and elbow technique, which requires a lot of strength, to create the bouncing sound of the triplets.

• Hand technique with the palm and the fingertips in both a basic and

accented fast 6/8 rhythm.

* Tammorriata a 4/4 rhythm played on the large drum called the Tammorra, originally from Naples with a strong African influence in the rhythm.

* Tarantella alla Montemaranese, a carnival dance from Montemarano (Naples) played on the smaller tambourines with a very unusual syncopation on the 6/8. This rite of Carnival dates back to the Roman celebrations in honor Bacchus, the god of wine.

RHYTHM  OF SAN ROCCO- a healing trance 6/8 rhythm from Calabria done in honor of San Rocco to send away fear of death by the plague from the Medieval TimesThe tambourines for the workshops can be made available through REMO.

 

1.Alessandra Belloni LESSON 3:  Pizzica srhythm and lesson on tambourine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfCWGQ6URds2.Alessandra Belloni LESSON 3:  TAMMORRIATA RHYTHM for the Black Madonna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_RPEG4Ae9w

 

Tambourine virtuoso/singer/dancer/actress Alessandra Belloni is renowned in her field and travels worldwide to perform group and solo concerts in theaters, universities, and international percussion festivals. Belloni began her career in her native Rome with the great actress Anna Magnani in "La Lupa," and with legendary film director Federico Fellini in "Casanova." She is Artistic Director/Leading Performer of I Giullari di Piazza, an ensemble of musicians/vocalists/dancers that specializes in authentic Southern Italian music and theater events, dating back to the 13th century. Belloni is a REMO artist and designer of her signature series of Italian tambourines; she is also author of the book & DVD "Rhythm is the Cure," published by Mel Bay. The only artist in the world who specializes in Southern Italian tambourines combined with singing and dance, Belloni was selected as one of the best percussionists in the world by DRUM! Magazine, and has been acclaimed in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, featured in Modern Drummer and Percussive

She has been invited to appear in percussion festivals in London, Brazil, Poland, France, Italy, Australia, Rome, and throughout the U.S.

 

Don Hackman, writing in the Los Angeles Times, found that "Alessandra Belloni and "Tarantata: Dance of the Ancient Spider" is a revelation, utterly fascinating."

Drum Magazine noted that "Italian-born virtuoso Alessandra Belloni is established as a unique phenomenon, not just a percussionist, but also an actress, lecturer, entertainer, and healer."

Jon Pareles of The New York Times, reviewing an I Giullari di Piazza show, remarked that "Ms. Belloni sang in an exultant voice. The songs blazed with an age-old momentum."