Get Caught in a Web of Ancient Southern Italian Dance, Music, and Culture at Tarantella Festival this Spring.
Yamunindi Art and Culture, Comites and Segmento present the “Segmento – Tarantella Festival”, celebrating the style of music and set of dances that originated in the South of Italy. The festival is the culmination of a month of activities including music and dance workshops at schools and elderly associations, an official launch on Friday the 18th of November at 6.30 pm and a day-long celebration at Edwards Lake Park, Reservoir on the 20th of November. The opening ceremony on Friday the 18th will kick off a celebration of dance, music, workshops, storytelling, performances, food, and drink.
The history of Tarantella dates to the 15th century and ancient times in southern Italy. The solo Tarantella dance was used to cure disease provoked by the bite of the Tarantula spider! It was thought that by sending the victim into a fever-driven trance the dancer would sweat the poison from their body. Today Tarantella dance and traditions offer an opportunity to come together and celebrate diversity within the Italian community. Festival goers can expect a supportive environment in which everybody can express themselves safely and creatively.
“Today Tarantella dance and traditions offer an opportunity to come together and celebrate diversity within the Italian community. Festival goers can expect a supportive environment in which everybody can express themselves safely and creatively”, says Dr Giovanni Butera, Festival Director.
The festival brings together Australian and Italian creatives to provide an original and multi-immersive experience of traditional Italian music and dance. Participants and facilitators including dancers, musicians, writers, poets, and visual artists will promote Southern Italian culture. Local primary schools, Italian Clubs and Associations will join to share knowledge, values, and identity with audiences across generations.
The artistic direction of the festival is led by the Melbourne School of Tarantella. Founded in 2011 by Rosa Voto the school is dedicated to the Southern Italian traditional and ritualistic style of dance in Australia.
“The objective of “Segmento Tarantella Festival” is to promote Southern Italian traditional music and dance – to become a catalyst and forge connections by encouraging communications and curiosity amongst diverse communities and by promoting cultural awareness amongst all generations,” says Rosa Voto the Artistic Director of the festival.
The festival will consist of performances from the Melbourne School of Tarantella, Sanacori, Zumpa, The Rustica Project and the international guests Fortunato & Valentina of “Progetto Tarantella”.
Multimedia exhibitions and presentations will include Melbourne-based Australian artists with a Southern Italian background. Traditional southern Italian musical instruments will be played to accompany singing and dancing. A series of workshops will complement the entertainment with Italian Clubs and Associations presenting dancing sessions, music, singing and Tamburello workshops.
The festival hopes to promote cultural awareness amongst all generations.
