ALESSANDRA BELLONI ~ internationally renowned percussionist, singer-dancer   Presents :  DRUMS  & DANCES OF ILLUMINATION   a SPECIAL  EQUINOX RITUAL OF PURIFICATION  TO BRING GOOD ENERGY,  featuring also Juliet Rabia Gentile  

 Healing Dance & Percussion workshop focusing on the origins of the Tarantella as a healing dance & drumming & dances in honor of the Black Madonna

     Saturday March 19from 6:00 to 9:00pm – at the Italian American Museum – 155 Mulberry Street- Little Italy - Cost: $ 60 -  For more information :ABelloni@aol.comwww.alessandrabelloni.com   Featuring Southern Italian ritual dances used as music and dance therapy combined with their unique style of tambourine, and focusing on the ancient healing trance dance of the Tarantella, used to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula. .    Part 1:  rhythms and chants in honor of the Black Madonnaknown as Tammorriata – done  in honor of the Black Madonna(originally ancient rites for the Earth Goddess Cybele).  SUFI CHANT in Honor of MARIAM -sung by RABIA   Part 2 Students will also learn the trance 6/8 rhythm and  dance of SAN ROCCO called the : THE SPINNING DANCE,  Based on a trance tarantella from Calabria in honor of San Rocco, dating back to the Middle ages, used as a healing ritual against the plague. Everyone spins together in a spiral and in a circle. CONNECTING IT TO THE SUFI WHIRLING DANCE LED BY RABIA   The final part will be dedicated to the healing trance dance of purification called Pizzica Tarantata, used to cure a mental disorder called Tarantismo, which afflicted mainly women, who felt stuck in the spider web of their society. Every student will learn the steps of the Pizzica, which are very fast and energetic. Part of the ritual takes place on the floor, and the dance is actually a spider-like movement on the ground. This part has the most amazing healing effect, releasing stress, blockage of sexual energy, as well as opening the heart and throat chakra according to the movements, as if coming out of an imaginary SPIDERWEB.      Alessandra will end the sessions using the ocean drum, creating the sound of the waves in a final relaxation invoking the healing power of the water.   Please wear white and red, the ritual colors of the Tarantate.   (Please do not wear black.)