Alessandra Belloni
Very exicted about performing at the Museum of Music and Instruments (Momai) May 18th at 8:00pm in Venice California with great artists as Miranda Rondeau, frame drums and vocals, Vida Vierra, Brazilian songs and rhythms, John Paul Tobin on viola , Greg Dormani on guitar , a night of South Italian folk music, dance, healing chants and powerful rhythms ! here is the link https://www.facebook.com/events/122456277890301/
Internationally renowned Singer, dancer, percussionist Remo Artist
:::::ALESSANDRA BELLONI PRESENTS::::::
TARANTATA
Southern Italian Folk Music, ritual drumming and trances
Featuring:
ALESSANDRA BELLONI - voice, Southern ltalian tambourines & frame drums , ritual dance,
Greg Dormani - guitar,
John Paul Tobin, Viola,
Joyce Ferrer ritual dance
This fiery "percussive journey" through the South of Italy and crossing to Brazil will explore through songs, dance and rhythm, magic rituals, tarantellas used as music therapy to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula , healing chants and ritual drumming in honor of the Black Madonna,known as Tammorriata, lullabies, love ballads, work chants and protest song.
The music comes from different regions of Italy, mainly Naples, Calabria, Sicily, Puglia and Sardegna, and it has been arranged with a very unique World Music Sound.
The performance ends with the authentic Pizzzica Tarantata, the healing trance dance from Puglia used as an exorcism to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula, a mental disorder that afflicted mainly women, and which goes back to the ancient Greek rites of Dyonisus.
LIVE ON ABC TV : http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources&id=8592878
http://www.alessandrabelloni.com/ http://www.youtube.com/alessandrabelloni
www.facebook.com/alessandrabelloni www.reverbnation.com/alessandrabelloni
Tambourine virtuoso/singer/dancer/actress Alessandra Belloni is renowned in her field and travels worldwide to perform group and solo concerts in theaters, universities, and international percussion festivals. Belloni began her career in her native Rome with the great actress Anna Magnani in "La Lupa," and with legendary film director Federico Fellini in "Casanova." She is Artistic Director/Leading Performer of I Giullari di Piazza, an ensemble of musicians/vocalists/dancers that specializes in authentic Southern Italian music and theater events, dating back to the 13th century. Belloni is a REMO artist and designer of her signature series of Italian tambourines; she is also author of the book & DVD "Rhythm is the Cure," published by Mel Bay. The only artist in the world who specializes in Southern Italian tambourines combined with singing and dance, Belloni was selected as one of the best percussionists in the world by DRUM! Magazine, and has been acclaimed in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, featured in Modern Drummer and Percussive .
She has been invited to appear in percussion festivals and theatres in London, Brazil, Poland, Italy, France, Australia, Egypt, Israel, Korea, Glastonbury, Canada and across the US.
Jon Pareles of The New York Times, reviewing Alessandra, remarked that "Ms. Belloni sang in an exultant voice. The songs blazed with an age-old momentum."
Don Hackman, writing in the Los Angeles Times, found that "Alessandra Belloni and "Tarantata: Dance of the Ancient Spider" is a revelation, utterly fascinating."
Drum Magazine noted that "Italian-born virtuoso Alessandra Belloni is established as a unique phenomenon, not just a percussionist, but also an actress, lecturer, entertainer, and healer."
Gregory Dormani was born and raised in NYC from an Italian American family with a love for music at an early age. Greg first started performing in rock bands at 12 years old. Greg's musical taste broadened to include folk and world music in the late 1960's and he was one of the earliest members of I Giulari Di Piazza. He promoted Italian Musica Popolare through the Italian Music Tour -a series of concerts highlighting outstanding traditional Italian musicians- sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. Greg's skills include guitar, mandolin,violin, percussion, songwriting and singing.
Greg now lives in Los Angeles where he performs as a singer songwriter.He is the recepient of the VH-1 award as a recommended artist and has recenly performed at such venues as the Malibu Music Awards and the the House of Blues.
::::::Vida Vierra's & Swing Brazil::::::
Vida will present her beautiful repertoire of songs and dances from Brazil and her CD "Woman of the Waters". honoring Yemanja and Oxun, Goddesses of Love and Waters, Xango, of the Afro- Brazilian Yoruba tradition.
featuring VIDA VIERRA, - Brazilian percussion, vocal and ritual dance, Dana Maman , voice, pandeiro, congas, and other guest percussionists and dancers
The evening will end with the full ensemble including Alessandra Belloni, Miranda Rondeau and Vida Vierra, playing RHYTHM IS THE CURE featuring also original songs by Alessandra Belloni inspired by her many trips to Brazil, the Condomble rituals and the Orishas Yemanja, Oxun Xango,
Vida Vierra- Artistic Director, Swing Brazil Tribe-Dance Co.
Vida Vierra is a multi-disciplinary performing artist and educator who has been working in the LA community for over 20 years. Her efforts in organizing and performing at the World Festival of Sacred Music 1 , 2 ,3 4 and 5 have granted her international acclaim and recognition. As a vocal artist Vida performs with her own band and is featured on her CD "Woman of the Waters". She was nominated for "Best World Music Artist" in the New Times LA Music Poll in both 2000 and 2001. Other credits include Jubilee 2000 tour (with Perry Farrell),The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Coachella Music Festival I & II, Operation S.M.I.L.E. (with Baba Olatunge and Jai Uttal), Silver Lining Project, UCLA World Dance Festival, African Market Place, and featured in the PBS documentary "Making It In LA". Vida films include "On the Edge"- Finding God in the City of Angelsand "City of Angels", the documentary of the World Festival of Sacred Music 2002 PB.
As an educator Vida has an active teaching schedule in the West-side Los Angeles community. Vida Is an accomplished dancer whose mentor was the late-great Max Jr. from Rio De Janeiro. Vida continues her studies yearly in Bahia, Brazil and regularly performs in numerous festivals and events in the Los Angeles area. She has worked with the Children's Lifesaving Foundation working with homeless children to develop self-esteem through dance and music. She has taught dance at women's shelters (Catholic services), Kittsville (at Hoover School) for children at risk, Crossroads School, Orville Wright Middle School, Hamilton High School and has led many workshops one of which was for the Venice Arts Mecca.
Vida has developed "Spirit in Motion", a workshop for self empowerment using the dynamic elements of Brazilian dance forms, Chi Gong, singing and drumming. Her classes are held weekly at the Electric Lodge, Venice, California.
:::::Miranda Rondeau:::::
She will open the night with her original & powerful chants and drumming.
Songs of Remembrance
The frame drum is the sound of the ancient heart,
the Heartbeat of the Mother
It is the sound of the rhythms of Life, of seasons and cycles.
It is the Sun, the Moon, the Earth, the Cosmic Egg.
It is the first sound we ever hear in our Mothers WOMB, our time of ONENESS.
Miranda Rondeau is a singer, musician and frame drum artist. Her vocals transcend language, bypasses the intellect, and is devotional and invoking in nature. She Co-founded the musical group COR (Circle of Remembrance) and is Creative Consultant for Luvamp Project http://luvamp.org/ Miranda also initiated and created an on-line presence for Women Frame Drumming via myspace, facebook, twitter and Youtube. She just completed her first music video "Dragonfly" a tribute to women frame drummers past to present.
http://www.myspace.com/mirandarondeau
