SACRED DRUMMING & CHANTS FOR THE BLACK MADONNA & THE ORISHAS FORM ITALY & BRAZIL

CORAZON PERFORMING ARTS, Topanga, California

CORAZON PERFORMING ARTS presents: Internationally renowned Italian Singer & percussionist/Remo Artist - Alessandra Belloni In: SACRED DRUMMING & CHANTS FOR THE BLACK MADONNA & THE ORISHAS FORM ITALY & BRAZIL Featuring: ALESSANDRA BELLONI : voice, tambourines, frame drums, VIDA VIERRA – vocals, percussion - DANI LUNN – Dance, Vocals/Percussion JOHN FITZGERALD – percussion - Cynthia Jimenez / Drums

A mystical journey of empowerment as we unveil the healing power of the musical traditions of the Black Madonna known in the Italian folk tradition as "the Seven Sisters." SUNDAY JANUARY 29 – 7:00pm – at CORAZON PERFORMING ARTS 125 S Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga, CA 90290 – tickets: $ 30 – at: http://www.corazontopanga.com/ www.alessandrabellonii.com

This powerful musical journey will introduce and transport the audience to a time and place where an unbroken and ancient tradition continues today with folk music, processions, devotional drumming, and dance.

The concert is inspired by two geographically distant but thematically parallel traditions. Southern Italian and Brazilian purification rites and procession performed in the summer to honor the archetypical sea goddess. In Brazil she comes from the West African Yoruba culture and is called Yemanja , in Italy she is called the Black Madonna of the Sea (once called Aphrodite). Internationally renowned singer, percussionist, dancer and REMO Artist Alessandra Belloni will be playing the ocean drum, recreating the sound of the waves of the ocean , her Yemanja drum made by Remo that combines the sound of the water with the drum, her line of Southern Italian tambourines and frame drums accompanied by a small ensemble of singers and percussionists.

Vida Vierra will sing the traditional Afro Brazilian Chants for Yemanja and Ochun, Goddess of Love, the Sea, the Rivers accompanied by djembes, congas, pandeiro & bells. Southern Italy and Brazil share their common roots in Africa and worship of the Black Madonna as African Mother. . Following Alessandra's book, "Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna" (Inner Traditions Bear and Co., 2019)https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Journeys-Black- Madonna-Practices/dp/15914 The concert will narrate the legend of the 7 Sisters , or seven Black Madonnas: The last one was believed to be the ugliest so she ran away to a high mountain “Mount Partenio” so that the pilgrims had to search hard to find her. When they found Her they saw that she was the most beautiful of all, She was Black and they called her “Mamma Schiavona” the nurturing, serving mother, to be found now in MONTEVERGINE. She is also the patron of the gay & transgenders.

These Madonnas are connected to seven Goddesses that are part of the ancient worship of Mother Earth and the archetype of the African Mother, especially Isis from Egypt. Countries around the world, including Southern Italy, Brazil, Africa and the Middle East have musical traditions based on the power of women chants & drumming. Belloni and company will emulate one of the most ancient ways of praying and healing, including sacred chanting to the Black Madonna sung by female voices in harmony, accompanied by various percussion instruments (frame drums, tambourines, shakers, djembes, dumbecks, riqqs,). Dancers will spin and stomp their feet in celebration of life and peace.