Experience the healing power of the Tarantella rhythms and dance withInternationally renowned singer, percussionist, teacher Alessandra Belloni , Remo Artist,  

As seen in the film  Living Shamanism - The Tarantella Trance Trailer shot in Italy last summer by French/American film maker Manex Ibar https://vimeo.com/59786628about Alessandra Belloni, as artist/healer     as she proudly announces her   Healing Dance and Percussion Workshop from Southern Italy   RHYTHM IS THE CURE

    AUGUST 16  to 23 2016  in a splendid Renaissance Villa in the magic hills of Tuscany, Italy     Alessandra's summer workshop in Tuscany featuring Tarot puppet-making classes led by Puppet Artist Gaia Pescetti    

About: Rhythm is the Cure is a 7-day intensive healing workshop featuring Southern Italian ritual dances used as music and dance therapy for centuries throughout the Mediterranean. Participants will learn the unique style of tambourine playing and the ancient healing trance dance of the tarantella, used to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula.   Location:  La Chiara di Prumiano, a beautiful 17th century villa set high in the rural hills of Tuscany's Chianti Classico vineyards, hosts our group of about twenty-five women and men who come from all over the world. As their guest, you'll stay in a spacious and comfortable room that boasts windows with shutters that open onto the surrounding shimmering olive groves.  More pictures and information available here: http://www.prumiano.it    The workshop focuses on releasing blockages of energies, and break the  imaginary "spiderweb" of the subconscious mind. Through this work, Alessandra has helped transform many people's lives through the years. The objectives of the workshop are:   --To introduce the participants to an ancient form of music and dance therapy used to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula and to come to understand the healing and stress-relieving effect of these rhythms and dances.   --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 bringing women back in touch with their drumming tradition.    --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 summer in 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 that produced a trance-like state beneficial for healing many mental-health disorders and imbalances. 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 traumas and blocked emotions.       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.   Alessandra ends the sessions ends using the ocean drum creating the sound of waves in a final relaxation invoking the healing power of the water. Using also ancient chants used as an invocation to the healing energy of the sun, the Black Madonna  and the Goddess of Water and Love (Yemanja/Madonna del Mare).    Participants are encouraged to wear white and red, and women to wear skirts.   Cultural Excursion: An excursion will also take place to the nearby medieval walled city of Siena where we'll visit the Black Madonna in the Duomo, followed by a pilgrimage to one of Tuscany's little-known treasures, the Abbey of San Galgano, a spectacular ruined Cistercian gothic abbey, where the participants will experience a special drumming ceremony. At sunset we will drum while walking up the hill to the extraordinary Hermitage Montesiepi, which has another powerful Black Madonna.       A Game Within the Game

       See a glimpse of past year's Rhythm is the Cure in Tuscany, Italy: Russian TV Travel Channel Dancing Planet:      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKuHhkTehNQ&feature=youtu.be     Alessandra Belloni  tarantella Interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQj30s71Zy0