- P
- I
Dear friends:
I hope that you are doing well in these most challenging times—definitely the hardest of my generation.
I personally am just recovering from a surgery, as some of you know (had a broken femur!), and I am happy to share that I am doing well, moving well, and hope to be dancing again soon.
The world has changed since our last annual Holiday End of the Year Fundraiser in December 2019.
I’ve been working very hard to adapt from a life as a touring artist, teacher and performer into creating an online school with my company, I Giullari di Piazza.
Like other arts organizations, however, we are facing a financial emergency due to the pandemic.
I co-founded the company I Giullari di Piazza in the beginning of 1980, together with guitarist/composer John La Barbera, and we began our artistic career at New York University where we were artists in residence for 10 years. Many of you have shown your faith in us over the years through your generous support, and, thanks to you, we’ve reached many goals, including becoming artists in residence at The Cathedral of St. John Divine.
My work as an artist and teacher is dedicated wholeheartedly to keeping alive the South Italian traditions of music, drumming and dance in all their spiritual meaning and power. Many of the traditional songs and dances of this region are deeply connected to ancient Greek and Mediterranean women’s rituals of honoring Mother Earth and the feminine aspects of nature, and as healing ceremonies of both body and mind.
We are truly so grateful for your past support. Without you we would not be teaching and sharing the powerful and healing traditions of this music.
Our company needs funding to make it through these challenging times, to continue performing and teaching through next year online—and eventually in person. Thanks to director Dr. Joe Scelsa these classes and performances will also be held at the Italian American Museum on Mulberry Street once it is open in 2021.
During the global pandemic I’ve been teaching drum and dance lessons online and the results have been wonderful. I’ve reached so many people across the world, due to the magic of the internet. These online classes have inspired me to focus on creating an online school––The Black Madonna Institute––so we can continue to work with a global community.
To continue to build this on-line school, we need funding. We hope to achieve our financial goals so we can launch new classes in January 2021.
Click the DONATE NOW button to support us!
This school will hold diverse series of classes, musical presentations and special lectures accessible to a global community, so they can experience the healing of these ancient and powerful practices. As part of this project, I am now also creating a documentary video series and VIRTUAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE SACRED SITES OF THE BLACK MADONNA.
My intention is to lead my students and the viewers through a healing and educational journey showing the authentic rituals in the South of Italy and how the Black Madonna is still alive today.
OUR FIRST PRODUCTION OF THE NEW YEAR will be our Musical Epiphany Celebration Fundraiser on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
This will be a special online live presentation featuring music from the beloved Neapolitan Renaissance Christmas show, La Cantata dei Pastori and premiering special storytelling about the history of I Giullari di Piazza and the creation of this classic holiday presentation, praised by the New York Times. With narration by La Befana, the good Christmas witch, singing, dancing, and gorgeous Southern Italian percussion, this is something you don’t want to miss!
You can help us by purchasing a ticket to this wonderful Zoom event for $50 from Eventbrite and gather around with your pod, a glass of wine, and some Christmas cookies for a magical night. Purchase your ticket before December 31, for a write off this year.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/musical-epiphany-celebration-fundraiser-tickets-133009903201?
In addition to the performance, the musicians and the company directors will interact and tell their stories about performing this production for 35 years. You will get a behind-the-scenes peek into how I Giullari and their shows developed, including conversations with members of the troupe, both musicians and dancers.
The evening will include live performances of some of the CANTATA favorite Neapolitan Christmas songs, including traditional tarantellas, Renaissance villanelles, and pastorales from traditional sources, with original music by John La Barbera and traditional Southern Italian instrumentation. The presentation ends with a singing by the Company of the oldest known Neapolitan Christmas song.
● Directed by Alessandra Belloni (also in the role of Mary playing her drum to defeat the devil)
● Music composed and arranged by John La Barbera, also playing classical guitar, chitarra battente, mandolin
● Guest artists include:
○ Max McGuire as La Befana
○ Joe Deninzon, violin and vocals, also in the role of the Devil
Francesca Silvano dancer, in the role of shepherdess, the Moon, and the Sun
And other special guest artists to be announced!
You can also support our non-profit organization making a tax-deductible donation by clicking on one of the buttons below.
We know these are difficult times for many people, and even a small contribution will help make a difference!
UPCOMING ARTISTIC PROJECTS FOR THE YEAR 2021: mark your calendars!
● January 15, 2021 at 8pm: A Live, Online Concert Presentation Of Tarantata—celebrating the new year with the healing power of the tarantella!––presented by the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, featuring Alessandra Belloni on vocals and percussion, John La Barbera on guitars and mandolin, Joe Deninzon on violin and vocals, and Francesca Silvano––dancer––recorded live at Tom Tedesco’s studio.
● March 2021: Women’s History Month: concert celebrating the book “HEALING JOURNEYS WITH BLACK MADONNA” at Theater for the New City and the Italian American Museum in New York.
● June 29 2021: Production of TARANTATA at the Cathedral of ST JOHN THE DIVINE, celebrating the ancient “night of the tarantula” and the feast of St Paul.
● December 21 & 22nd, 2021: a special Solstice celebration at Theater for the New City: “DRUMS OF ILLUMINATION
*More information on these projects will be shared as we get closer to their dates.
Make your contribution today to support I Giullari and the Black Madonna Institute. Your donations are essential to keep the continuation of this important and powerful musical work! I Giullari di Piazza is a non-profit organization under the 501-C3 code, and all contributions are tax deductible.
You can make a contribution in any amount. At the $25 level and above, you will receive beautiful thank you gifts in exchange! Click below or use the DONATE NOW button.
● $25: our gratitude for your support and your name listed on the Musical Epiphany Celebration Fundraiser program
https://www.everbutton.com/pay/3923
● $50: an Alessandra Belloni CD of your choice, plus your name on the program
https://www.everbutton.com/pay/6349
● $75: my instructional book Rhythm is the Cure about the Southern Italian tambourine and tarantella rhythms
https://www.everbutton.com/pay/3750
● $100: my book Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna and your name on the program https://www.everbutton.com/pay/3751
● $150: a drum from my signature line of tambourines that I design with REMO and your name on the program
https://www.everbutton.com/pay/3752
● $ 300: my book, & a drum from my signature series of tambourines that I design with REMO, and your name on the program
https://www.everbutton.com/pay/3924/
$ 500 – SPECIAL download of the first 2 episodes of my Virtual Pilgrimage to the Black Madonna, & Book or drum, https://www.everbutton.com/pay/3925/
You will experience the power of the tarantella with each thank you gift!
If you need a tax deduction before the need of the year this is a good cause!
Thank you for your support!
Blessings and Happy Holidays,
Alessandra Belloni
Artistic Director
www.alessandrabelloni.com
www.facebook.com/alessandrabelloni
www.youtube.com/alesssandrabella7
I hope that you are doing well in these most challenging times—definitely the hardest of my generation.
I personally am just recovering from a surgery, as some of you know (had a broken femur!), and I am happy to share that I am doing well, moving well, and hope to be dancing again soon.
The world has changed since our last annual Holiday End of the Year Fundraiser in December 2019.
I’ve been working very hard to adapt from a life as a touring artist, teacher and performer into creating an online school with my company, I Giullari di Piazza.
Like other arts organizations, however, we are facing a financial emergency due to the pandemic.
I co-founded the company I Giullari di Piazza in the beginning of 1980, together with guitarist/composer John La Barbera, and we began our artistic career at New York University where we were artists in residence for 10 years. Many of you have shown your faith in us over the years through your generous support, and, thanks to you, we’ve reached many goals, including becoming artists in residence at The Cathedral of St. John Divine.
My work as an artist and teacher is dedicated wholeheartedly to keeping alive the South Italian traditions of music, drumming and dance in all their spiritual meaning and power. Many of the traditional songs and dances of this region are deeply connected to ancient Greek and Mediterranean women’s rituals of honoring Mother Earth and the feminine aspects of nature, and as healing ceremonies of both body and mind.
We are truly so grateful for your past support. Without you we would not be teaching and sharing the powerful and healing traditions of this music.
Our company needs funding to make it through these challenging times, to continue performing and teaching through next year online—and eventually in person. Thanks to director Dr. Joe Scelsa these classes and performances will also be held at the Italian American Museum on Mulberry Street once it is open in 2021.
During the global pandemic I’ve been teaching drum and dance lessons online and the results have been wonderful. I’ve reached so many people across the world, due to the magic of the internet. These online classes have inspired me to focus on creating an online school––The Black Madonna Institute––so we can continue to work with a global community.
To continue to build this on-line school, we need funding. We hope to achieve our financial goals so we can launch new classes in January 2021.
Click the DONATE NOW button to support us!
This school will hold diverse series of classes, musical presentations and special lectures accessible to a global community, so they can experience the healing of these ancient and powerful practices. As part of this project, I am now also creating a documentary video series and VIRTUAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE SACRED SITES OF THE BLACK MADONNA.
My intention is to lead my students and the viewers through a healing and educational journey showing the authentic rituals in the South of Italy and how the Black Madonna is still alive today.
OUR FIRST PRODUCTION OF THE NEW YEAR will be our Musical Epiphany Celebration Fundraiser on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
This will be a special online live presentation featuring music from the beloved Neapolitan Renaissance Christmas show, La Cantata dei Pastori and premiering special storytelling about the history of I Giullari di Piazza and the creation of this classic holiday presentation, praised by the New York Times. With narration by La Befana, the good Christmas witch, singing, dancing, and gorgeous Southern Italian percussion, this is something you don’t want to miss!
You can help us by purchasing a ticket to this wonderful Zoom event for $50 from Eventbrite and gather around with your pod, a glass of wine, and some Christmas cookies for a magical night. Purchase your ticket before December 31, for a write off this year.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/musical-epiphany-celebration-fundraiser-tickets-133009903201?
In addition to the performance, the musicians and the company directors will interact and tell their stories about performing this production for 35 years. You will get a behind-the-scenes peek into how I Giullari and their shows developed, including conversations with members of the troupe, both musicians and dancers.
The evening will include live performances of some of the CANTATA favorite Neapolitan Christmas songs, including traditional tarantellas, Renaissance villanelles, and pastorales from traditional sources, with original music by John La Barbera and traditional Southern Italian instrumentation. The presentation ends with a singing by the Company of the oldest known Neapolitan Christmas song.
● Directed by Alessandra Belloni (also in the role of Mary playing her drum to defeat the devil)
● Music composed and arranged by John La Barbera, also playing classical guitar, chitarra battente, mandolin
● Guest artists include:
○ Max McGuire as La Befana
○ Joe Deninzon, violin and vocals, also in the role of the Devil
Francesca Silvano dancer, in the role of shepherdess, the Moon, and the Sun
And other special guest artists to be announced!
You can also support our non-profit organization making a tax-deductible donation by clicking on one of the buttons below.
We know these are difficult times for many people, and even a small contribution will help make a difference!
UPCOMING ARTISTIC PROJECTS FOR THE YEAR 2021: mark your calendars!
● January 15, 2021 at 8pm: A Live, Online Concert Presentation Of Tarantata—celebrating the new year with the healing power of the tarantella!––presented by the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, featuring Alessandra Belloni on vocals and percussion, John La Barbera on guitars and mandolin, Joe Deninzon on violin and vocals, and Francesca Silvano––dancer––recorded live at Tom Tedesco’s studio.
● March 2021: Women’s History Month: concert celebrating the book “HEALING JOURNEYS WITH BLACK MADONNA” at Theater for the New City and the Italian American Museum in New York.
● June 29 2021: Production of TARANTATA at the Cathedral of ST JOHN THE DIVINE, celebrating the ancient “night of the tarantula” and the feast of St Paul.
● December 21 & 22nd, 2021: a special Solstice celebration at Theater for the New City: “DRUMS OF ILLUMINATION
*More information on these projects will be shared as we get closer to their dates.
Make your contribution today to support I Giullari and the Black Madonna Institute. Your donations are essential to keep the continuation of this important and powerful musical work! I Giullari di Piazza is a non-profit organization under the 501-C3 code, and all contributions are tax deductible.
You can make a contribution in any amount. At the $25 level and above, you will receive beautiful thank you gifts in exchange! Click below or use the DONATE NOW button.
● $25: our gratitude for your support and your name listed on the Musical Epiphany Celebration Fundraiser program
https://www.everbutton.com/pay/3923
● $50: an Alessandra Belloni CD of your choice, plus your name on the program
https://www.everbutton.com/pay/6349
● $75: my instructional book Rhythm is the Cure about the Southern Italian tambourine and tarantella rhythms
https://www.everbutton.com/pay/3750
● $100: my book Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna and your name on the program https://www.everbutton.com/pay/3751
● $150: a drum from my signature line of tambourines that I design with REMO and your name on the program
https://www.everbutton.com/pay/3752
● $ 300: my book, & a drum from my signature series of tambourines that I design with REMO, and your name on the program
https://www.everbutton.com/pay/3924/
$ 500 – SPECIAL download of the first 2 episodes of my Virtual Pilgrimage to the Black Madonna, & Book or drum, https://www.everbutton.com/pay/3925/
You will experience the power of the tarantella with each thank you gift!
If you need a tax deduction before the need of the year this is a good cause!
Thank you for your support!
Blessings and Happy Holidays,
Alessandra Belloni
Artistic Director
www.alessandrabelloni.com
www.facebook.com/alessandrabelloni
www.youtube.com/alesssandrabella7