THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY  Crystal Field, Executive Producer, Presents:   ALESSANDRA BELLONI with I GIULLARI DI PIAZZA In the special end of the year concert : “HEALING JOURNEYS WTH THE BLACK MADONNA”  based on her Book complete with a music CD  Published by Inner Traditions - Bear & Company  Saturday December 28 at 8:00pm & Sunday December 29 at 3:00pm Join Alessandra Belloni as she opens a portal into the sacred sites of the mysterious Black Madonna in Italy and around the world with her  new book - Featuring foreword by bestselling author Matthew Fox The concert features music from the CD an enchanting journey of discovery of the seven Black Madonnas, following the ancient Neapolitan legend, known as the "Seven Sisters" in Southern Italy. This trip into traditional legends, miracles and history, transports audiences to a time and place where an unbroken and ancient tradition continues today with processions, drumming rituals, chanting and sensual dancing in honor of the Black Madonna. 

FEATURED ARTISTS: ALESSANDRA BELLONI lead vocal, mezzo-soprano, southern Italian percussion STEVE GORN master of bansuri flutes, also on Saxophone and clarinet, JOE DENINZON violinist and arranger WILSON MONTUORI classical and acoustic guitar MARA GERETY violin & vocals KEVIN NATHANIEL – vocals, mbira checkere   DANCERS: FRANCESCA SILVANO, PETER DE GERONIMO,  AMARA-   Belloni will speak about her book and tell her personal stories and legends of the Black Madonna based on 35 years of academic research and fieldwork. The book is a   musical-spiritual guide highlighting one woman’s mystical journey of empowerment and transformation and revealing the mysterious Black Madonna as a Christian tradition with origins in pre-Christian devotion to the Earth Goddess and the African Mother.  It comprises 12 chapters and each one ends with the description of the ritual prayers, lyrics and notations of the chants.
The traditional music includes the ancient chant to the Madonna of Montevergine (Avellino) from the region of Campania the Black Madonna known as Mamma Schiavona, the Serving Mother, who is considered the most important of the seven sisters. She continues to be venerated on a high sacred mountain, which pilgrims still climb barefoot while chanting and drumming in her honor.  The drumming is known as TAMMORRIATA, a sensual dance which dates back to the rites of the Mother Earth  Goddess Cybele, now worshiped as the Black Madonna. It also features new original compositions by Alessandra Belloni dedicated to the Earth Goddess, and the Yoruba African Orishas, Ochun, Yemanja, the Black Madonna of the Gypsies form France and the Mary Magdalen.