Internationally renowned singer, percussionist, teacher, author Alessandra Belloni - Remo Artist & the BLACK MADONNA CENTER Author of the book Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna published by Inner Traditions (2019), with preface by best-selling author Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox (The book is still a best-seller on Amazon, under Dance!)

Proudly announces her first retreat and intensive workshop in Puglia, the magic land of the tarantula for the feast of the Tarantati !

New Retreat Workshop

 

in Puglia, Italy ....

 

Tarantella -- The Spider Dance!



Healing drumming, dance and chanting workshop

 

June 27 to July 5, 2026

WE WILL BE DOING THIS TRIP THIS YEAR IN PLACE OF SICILY

See Payment Links at the Bottom

 

featuring internationally recognized local musicians & co-teachers:

GIOVANNANGELO DE GENNARO, singer, multi-instrumentalist

and MASSIMILIANO MORABITO & GIANCARLO PAGLIALUNGA

from the world famous pizzica group

CANZONIERE GRECANICO SALENTINO!

from the musical Spider Dance

by Alessandra Belloni & I Giullari di Piazza

Book & Register NOW! Only a few spaces left! See below.

For more information, email

alessandrabelloni@gmail.com

or blackmadonnacenter@gmail.com

www.AlesssandraBelloni.com

Dear Friends and Students,

Thanks to my friend and longtime collaborator, wonderful musician GIOVANNANGELO DE GENNARO and spiritual brother, who was a special guest in our concert in New York at St. John the Divine last year, and many times before, since 1993, 

I am proud to announce that I will hold a retreat workshop intensive on the

TARANTELLA - SPIDER DANCE

The Tarantismo and Pizzica tradition from Puglia,

 

IN PUGLIA, in a beautiful VILLA,

in the land of the famous magical Trulli,

celebrating the Feast of the Tarantati on June 29th!

 

https://www.pugliapeace.com/offerings

For a long time I have dreamed to hold this retreat workshop in Puglia, where I spent many years back in the 80s and 90s studying the pizzica & tarantismo (see my books! also Rhythm is the Cure) especially in ancient feast of the Tarantula and Tarantati on June 29th!

Many people who know me and followed my work are familiar with the special musical that I wrote and directed TARANTELLA SPIDER DANCE - an off-broadway production that performed to sold out audiences and received critical acclaim for many years in New York City & Los Angeles.

I have also led healing dance & percussion workshops around the world, healing mainly women through the trance dance of the pizzica tarantata ("pizzica" means bite), used to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula, a form of depression that afflicted mainly women known as tarantate. (More information below.)

The traditional "feast of the Tarantati" has been celebrated for centuries on June 29th for Sts. Peter & Paul (the Catholic replacement of Dionysus!) in the town of Galatina, in Puglia. It has been my dream to be there again, teaching and collaborating with these wonderful musicians!

Now thanks to my good friend and amazing musician Giovannangelo de Gennaro, this dream is coming true, as he found the right location.

 

Special featured guest artists:

SPECIAL PIZZICA dance classes with renowned dancers from Puglia:
Andrea de Siena and Floriana Guida and her partner Ciro

MASSIMILIANO MORABITO & GIANCARLO PAGLIALUNGA

from the world-famous group

CANZONIERE GRECANICO SALENTINO

Scholars and best performers of pizzica traditions!

IMPORTANT NOTE:

SOLD OUT

Final Payments Due May 15th

 

Payment options for making the Deposit:

PAYPAL: blackmadonnacenter@gmail.com

VENMO @Alessandra-Belloni

ZELLE: (646) 322-4637

I will hold this workshop instead of the tour in Sicily.

Also note: that since this is an intensive and intermediate-advanced workshop, I am first opening it to my long time students who studied with me for many years, and will receive A CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION AT THE END.

EVERYONE is WELCOME TO INQUIRE, BUT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED please get in touch ASAP -- and send registration of $300 -- only few spaces left!

TOTAL COST:

$3,200 after March 1st. ($3,500 for single room, sold out)

HOTEL & WORKSHOP DEPOSIT OF $1,000 + $300 Registartion Fee DUE NOW, to be deducted from the total cost.

ALL FINAL PAYMENTS DUE MAY 15th

FIRST COME FIRST SERVED!

 

Your tuition includes:

Accommodations -- only 4 single rooms (one left)
4 double rooms, in the beautiful trulli
Wonderful local delicious food -- 2 to 3 meals a day
Local transport, airport pickup and dropoff
Daily drumming, singing, and dancing workshops with master musicians and dancers
Excursions to the beautiful nearby beach town of Ostuni
The Cave of Saint Michael the Archangel in magical Gargano
SPECIAL FEATURE: JOURNEY TO THE TOWN OF GALATINA, for the Feast of the Tarantati on June 29


Looking forward to celebrating this ancient healing ritual together, letting go of the VENUM and breaking our spider webs with the best musicians in Puglia!

Intensive Retreat Workshop in Puglia

Tarantella - Spider Dance

Healing dance, percussion & singing retreat in Puglia

for the Feast of the Tarantati

June 27th to July 5th

 

LOCATION: VILLA SANT'ANNINA

In the heart of the TRULLI REGION, a special Villa

made of the ancient TRULLI round construction

INSIDE: Rooms & Communal Areas -- pugliapeace

With internationally renowned award-winning percussionist, singer, author Alessandra Belloni, teacher, facilitator, workshop leader,

in collaboration with

Giovannangelo de Gennaro, multi-instrumentalist, singer, scholar of medieval, Renaissance and folk music from Puglia. Last year he was a special guest artist of Alessandra & I Giullari di Piazza at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, performing sacred chants in honor of the Black Madonna of Montserrat. He is renowned for his expertise in medieval and early music, and for undertaking pilgrimages that connect his faith and folk music, integrating historical instruments.

SPECIAL GUEST TEACHERS

Musicians from the world famous award-winning music and dance company from Puglia, experts on the authentic PIZZICA: CANZONIERE GRECANICO SALENTINO -- known as CGS

GIANCARLO PAGLIALUNGA, percussionist, tamburello master, teacher from CGS

MASSIMIALIANO MORABITO, author, musiciian, ethnomusicologist, accordion player of CGS

GIOVANNANGELO DE GENNARO will offer special singing and chanting workshops, also playing tambourine

SPECIAL PIZZICA dance classes with renowned dancers from Puglia:
Andrea de Siena and Floriana Guida and her partner Ciro

THE VILLA

 

SANT'ANNINA is a unique property quietly situated in the midst of the gently undulating Monti district in the lovely Valle d'Itria in Puglia. It sits behind forested hills which overlook the souther Adriatic sea. It is a mixture of the modern and the old, and is divided into four attractive self-contained apartments when can either be rented individually or as a whole - ideal for family holidays, retreats, or arts courses. With room to sleep 12-15 people spread over 5 double rooms and 5 twin rooms, and plenty of tranquil outside space in the ground, the villa can cater for any need. we work together to ensure your retreat is the best it can be.

 

The property is brilliantly placed for easy access to Puglia's wonderful coastline and many attractions. The delightful local town of Cisternino with its ancient medieval center and weekly market, is only five minutes away by car. There are often events of all kinds in the main square in the summer months, while there are also regional festivals and concerts year-round at Ostuni, a beautiful town on the beach, a 20-minute drive away.

 

Nearby Airports: Bari 

For questions about travel: New Travel, LLC

1-(212) 239-2425 WhatsApp: 1-212-239-2425

Email booking@newtravelnyc.com

Special Program Presentations

by

Massimiliano Morabito

TARANTISMO

Voices and Images from Massimiliano's field research in the southern part of Puglia

This special lecture and demonstration will offer a fascinating journey through the TARANTISMO PUGLIESE, explored through precious audio-visual documents researched by Massimiliano Morabito in over 20 years of field research. At the center of the workshop, there will be the faces, sounds, images, and thoughts of the witnesses of this rich cultural heritage. It will be a unique occasion to reflect on how a testimonial written through the centuries will emerge in the living archives and how the folk popular oral tradition will continue to keep and reveal the ancient knowledge.

 

LA PIZZICA PIZZICA

History and analysis of the pugliese folk dance

 

This session focuses on analyzing the different historical and social phases of the pizzica pizzica. (Pizzica means "bite," referring to the bite of the tarantula.)

The transmission of the choreutic knowledge, the visual and cinematic, the imitation and learning within the family and community contests.

Neo-fusion and confusion of Taranta, tarantella, pizzica pizzica, pizzica de core, pizzica e taranta, neo-pizzica.

THE LULLABIES

Stories Sung By Women

 

Today we have a romantic image and ideal of lullabies. We think about women who sing sweet melodies and kind words to their children. But in the agricultural and shepherd culture, the lullaby songs were rarely sweet and soft. The singing of lullabies was the expression of the women's condition of being a wife besides a mother, and often had a protest kind of tone in relation to the privileged situation of their husbands.

We will listen to various recordings of lullabies, some never heard before as part of the unique research of Massimiliano Morabito.

ABOUT MASSIMILIANO: He graduated at the DAMS arts university in Bologna, and for over 20 years, has led deep field research of ethnomusicology and anthropology in the south of Italy.  His archival contribution to the Italian Institute ICBSA includes precious and rare audiovisual documentation. His personal archive has been recognized by the Ministry of culture in Italy as Historical Wealth. He is a member as accordion player of the famous group Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, since 2008. He taught Anthropology & Methology of research in the Conservatory of Lecce.
 

Giancarlo’s  tambourine workshops focus  on the tamburello Salentino, concentrating on on the traditional technique of the Joinian side of Puglia, Exploring rituals that travel from Tora di Marzo Nardo to Pino Zimba, Giancarlo is  famous for his passionate fiery style, his archaic voice, and the way he teaches the triplets, combining technique and passion, making into a community ritual.

 

ABOUT GIANCARLO: Member of the Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino since 2010, he tours all over the world with the group, one of the most important groups in Italian World Music. He is a soloist and leader of the famous NOTTE DELLA TARANTA, collaborated with the famous Ludocivo Einaudi & Goran Bregovic. He teaches all over Puglia and Italy and is part of the WorldMusic Academy.

 

Aiessandra Belloni "Spider Sex Documentary on National Geographic

 

Alessandra will be leading the healing trance dance ritual of THE PIZZICA TARANTATA or Spider Dance. This erotic and dynamic ritual dance originated as a cure for the mythical bite of the tarantula, a condition causing a mental disease called tarantismo, which afflicted mainly women (tarantate) in Southern Italy. The wild rhythm of the Pizzica, played on medium-sized tambourines and accompanied by dance, was performed as a musical exorcism ritual which produced a trance-like state beneficial for the healing of many disorders and imbalances. The dance comes to completion as each participant dances their way out of an imaginary "Spider Web," achieving inner balance and relief of stress, while restoring spiritual and physical energy.


ALESSANDRA'S RECENT AWARDS

Alessandra Belloni is the proud recipient of the 2026 Heritage Fellowship Award from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, for lifetime achievement as a Folk Arts Master

Alessandra Belloni received the 2025 Italian Arts Award from the Italian Teachers of America, recognizing her lifetime achievement in keeping the Italian musical heritage alive in the Americas.

The Dance of the Spider: A Musician's Journey to Revive the Feminine Legacy of the Italian Frame Drum -- Alessandra's 2021 interview in Smithsonian magazine!
 

 

Detailed Daily Program of TARANTELLA SPIDER DANCE -

Alessandra Belloni’s first retreat in Puglia with co -host artist Giovannangelo De Gennaro (giovannangelodegennaro@gmail.com)

At  Villa Sant’Annina https://www.pugliapeace.com/offerings

Saturday, 27 June – Arrival

  • Arrival at Bari Airport
  • Airport pick-up: approx. 12:00noon to 2:00 PM (to be confirmed based on flight schedules) greeting coordination by Gianni
  • Group transfer by bus to  Sant’Annina - Cisternino
  • Welcome Apulian dinner prepared by Chef Erminia
  • Accommodations: Villa Sant’annina – group of approx. 14 participants divided in 4 apartments (single & double rooms as booked)

 

 

Sunday, 28 June – Day 1 (Opening Program)

  • Morning session: 10:00 AM – 1:00PM
    • Introduction with Alessandra
    • Participation with Gianni (singing & drumming)
    • Pizzica dance demonstration by internationally renowned dancer Andrea de Siena
  • Lunch: 1:00 PM
  • Afternoon: Rest / preparation
  • Dance workshop: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    • Led by Andrea De Siena – Pizzica Dance
    • Possible closing solo performance by Andrea

 

 

Monday, 29 June – Galatina Pilgrimage- excursion to the Feast of the Tarantati at the Church of St. Paul-where the ancient collective ritual of the Pizzica Tarantata took place for centuries-live music and dance performances

  • Departure from villa: 8:00 AM
  • Visit to Galatina (arrival approx. 10:00 AM)
  • Sacred Feast activities: 10:00 AM – 12:30/1:00 PM
  • Lunch on site
  • Return to villa for dinner
  • Optional stops on return:
    • Black Madonna Byzantine icon site OR Ostuni coastal area/beach visit

 

 

Tuesday, 30 June – Workshop Day

  • Morning workshop: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Morning voice work with Gianni – followed by drumming with Alessandra and dance workshop with Floriana Guida & Ciro
  • Afternoon: Pizzica Dance workshop
    • Led by Floriana Guida and Ciro-  well known traditional dancers

 

 

Wednesday, 1 July – Workshop Day

  • Morning session: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
    • Massimiliano Morabito -lectures and demonstrations on the history of the Pizzica and the tarantella & Giancarlo Paglialunga – master percussionist tamburello workshop Pizzica style – from the world famous group Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino
  • Afternoon session: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    • Continued work with Massimiliano & Giancarlo

 

 

Thursday, 2 July – Workshop Day

  • Morning session: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
    • Massimiliano & Giancarlo continue lectures and demonosrations and tamburello workshop -
  • Afternoon session: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    • Joint workshop with Massimiliano & Giancarlo- accordion, tamburello, dance

 

 

Friday, 3 July – Pilgrimage & Sacred Sites

  • Departure: 9:00 AM- excursion to the beautiful Gargano Peninsula
    • Visit Santa Maria degli Angeli cave / Monte Sant’Angelo area (St. Michael cave site) 
  • Special lunch experience (extra cost ~euro – 50 per person at beautiful  Agriturismo music and  meal – special organic farm and restaurant -  with live music performance of the haunting TARANTELLA DEL GARGANO by local musicians
  • Evening return to villa for dinner

 

 

Saturday, 4 July – Final Ritual & Celebration – 

Morning to confirmed : morning off or go to special trullo (surprise)

Voice and drumming with Giovannangelo and Alessandra 

Home-cooked Apulian meal

  • 4:30  into the evening:
    • Pizzica Tarantata healing trance dance  ritual led by Alessandra with Gianni
    • Final celebration and group PARTY – jam sessions with students 

 

 

Sunday, 5 July – Departure – check departure times 

  • Departure from Villa  Sant’Annina to be determined
  • Bus transfer to Bari Airport
  • Pick-up time to be confirmed based on group flight schedules
  • Flexible departures depending on participants’ travel plans
  • Some participants may depart early or extend their stay in Italy

 

 

Important Notes

  • Accommodation throughout the program: Villa Sant’Annina (4 separate apartments)
  • Schedule may be adjusted slightly based on weather, logistics, or group needs

Final confirmed timings will be communicated by the logistics coordinator

Giancarlo Paglialunga & Massimiliano Morabito

Notte Della Taranta with CGS

https://canzonieregrecanicosalentino.net/

PAY $300 HERE PAYPAL

 

Pay $1000 HERE PAYPAL

 


Alessandra Belloni

Remo Artist

Artist in residence at Cathedral of St. John the Divine

1047 Amsterdam Avenue

New York NY 10025 - tel 646 322-4637

www.alessandrabelloni.com

Email alessandrabelloni@gmail.com

or blackmadonnacenter@gmail.com

www.amazon.com/healingjourneyswiththeblackmadonna

www.igiullaridipiazza.com