Internationally renowned singer, percussionist, teacher
Alessandra Belloni -
artist in residence at the Cathedral of St john the Divine
presents: "THE VOYAGE OF THE BLACK MADONNA '
Celebrating The Black Madonna on the Summer Solstice
Uniting with the Divine to Heal Mind & Spirit
An Interactive Performance with Alessandra Belloni and Steve Gorn
also: Wilson Montuori on guitar, violinist Mara Gerety
and dancers Francesca Silvano, Peter De Geronimo
This evening the internationally renowned singer, tambourine virtuoso and great reviver of ancient southern Italian music, Alessandra Belloni, will join world famous master bansuri flautist Steve Gorn in a special performance to celebrate the Summer Solstice. They will blend healing chants, dances and drumming inspired by authentic ancient southern Italian spiritual teachings that honor the Black Madonna, revered in that region as Jesus' mother, Mary, who represents all souls seeking union with the Divine. They will take the audience on an enchanting journey of discovery of the seven Black Madonnas, following the ancient Neapolitan legend, known as the "Seven Sisters" in Southern Italy. Alessandra is considered a true scholar of this ancient tradition and she will share her knowledge, based on 35 years of field research, and the power of transformation connected to the BLACK MADONNA, a Christian tradition with roots in the pre-Christian worship of the Earth Mother and the archetype of the African Mother. She is the all-embracing compassionate mother aspect of the Divine & female aspect of God who guides all humanity regardless of race, class, religion. Alessandra will also share mystical teachings and physical movements that can help us calm our minds, relax our bodies, and let go of emotional blockages. The Black Madonna archetype takes different guises in many cultures. In Brazil, by way of African traditions, she is called Yemaja (Madonna of the Sea), and Alessandra will also share techniques that help us access Yemaja's healing energy.
Come experience a powerful evening that can help us connect to the divine and revitalize our weary spirit, as we draw from a beautiful and inspiring ancient tradition that lives on today through spiritual pilgrimages, town processions, ceremonial rituals, and expressive dances. The audience is transported into another realm where dancing and music can heal, where spirituality and sensuality are not diametrically opposed, where all things are truly possible.
MORE ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE & REPERTOIRE:Alessandra will speak about her personal healing journey with the Black Madonna, and her unique research that led her to write together with composer John La Barbera the theater and dance piece in 1991 and brought her to be Artist in residence at the Cathedral of St John the Divine..
In this special interactive performance , the audience will learn musical mystical traditions associated with the Black Madonna from Southern Italy, Spain, France Brazil, connecting her to the pre-Christian devotion to the Goddesses Cybele, Artemis, Isis, Aphrodites.
Participants will learn the ancient healing chants in honor of the Black Madonna & the Sun, which use a modal Lydian Scale, that has the power of calming the mind and to de-stress. Through the use of the ocean drum creating the sound of waves the audience will be guided in a final relaxation invoking the healing power of the water together with invocations to the Black Madonna and the Goddess of Water and Love (Yemanja/Madonna del Mare). The concert will end with of the powerful tambourine style, TAMMORRIATA, which dates back to the rites of the Mother Earth Goddess Cybele, now worshiped as the Black Madonna and has the power to release blockages of emotional and sensual energies making the participants feel part of community-healing rituals as they use their bodies in movements that help open the energy points and stay grounded.
Alessandra Belloni will describe also her personal research and experiences also during the annual Pilgrimage to the Sacred Site of the Black Madonna in Southern Italy, which she has been leading for four years. For more information see the link:www.alessandrabelloni.com/BlackMadonnatour The audience will also be invited to participate in the chants and there will be Q& A at the end of the program.
Here is a link https://youtu.be/vrXtYQCyAzI
from the wonderful presentation
THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 8 at
NYU - CASA ITALIANA
The voyage of the Black Madonna documentary promo by Alessandra Belloni about her field research in Southern Italy during the feasts of the Black Madonna filmed between 1991 and 1997 by Dario Bollini
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsvmSOI1PEQ
NYU - CASA ITALIANA