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Vintage Suitcase: Traditions

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TARANTELLA Tarantella is a group of various folk dances characterized by a fast upbeat tempo, usually in 6/8 time (sometimes 18 / 8 or 4/4), accompanied by tambourines. It is among the most recognized forms of traditional southern Italian music.

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The specific dance-name varies with every region, for instance Tammuriata in Campania, Pizzica in the Salento region, Sonu a ballu in Calabria, Tarantella in Sicily. Tammuriata Pizzica Sonu a ballu Tarantella

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Why this name Tarantella? Tarantella name comes from Taranto, town in Apulia region. In this area,the bite of a locally common type of spider ( Mediterranean black widow) named "tarantula" was popularly believed to be highly poisonous and to lead to a body hysterical condition known as tarantism ( body expressions as speed movements of feet, arms and body, delirium and contortions ) So the rhythm of the tarantella mimed the effects of a poisonous bite, but its rhythm during the dance, for many hours, could be a remedy to help the body in its detoxification.

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TARANTELLA from a far past BACCHANALIA CULTS

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Oldest documents told about the relationship between Tarantella and musical exorcism explaining how this performance is linked to ancient rituals of the Dionysian Cult (Bacchanalia) in use as early as 1100 BC in the Roman age. Dionysius, heritage of Greek culture, was the god "back from the dead" that ensured the rebirth and the cycles of nature, making free men and women from worries. Oldest documents told about the relationship between Tarantella and musical exorcism explaining how this performance is linked to ancient rituals of the Dionysian Cult (Bacchanalia) in use as early as 1100 BC in the Roman age. Dionysius, heritage of Greek culture, was the god "back from the dead" that ensured the rebirth and the cycles of nature, making free men and women from worries. We were GREEK

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We were ROMAN We were ROMAN His cult had moments of absolute freedom of the senses, of orgiastic rites, propitiatory of primal life energy that expressed through dances, music, wine In 186 BC the Bacchanalia were prohibited by the Republican Senate just by their very nature bawdy. So tarantism became underground and reappearing under the guise of emergency therapy for bite victims later. The transformations of this cult survived and turned down the millennia, came to us as Carnival or Celtic Rites,... their music so frenetic and hypnotic today is tarantella in several forms.

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but Tarantella is a PLACE ! The beat of life relentless ; Eternal hours on the clock waiting for an event ; The swing of the sea waves from peace to storm; The sound of the wind blowing wind that shaking trees; The echoes of volcanoes drums ( Etna and Vesuvio) that devastating landscapes.

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TARANTELLA is a cultural heritage Its the soul of South Italy; Its the perfect harmony with nature; Its the care against the illness; Its the passion for life; Its an exorcism against death; Its a community dimension of men and women that together express all their joy of life far from their daily contradictions.

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PAST AND PRESENT PAST AND PRESENT Tarantella in the past was the soul of parties and celebrations, it sang jokes or scorn, passion,love, vitality Rossini, Respighi very famous classical musicians found inspiration in Tarantella. Today, in the wider scene of globalized music, it s still very popular among people. Now through new forms and expressions, new instrumental fusions of melodies and words unites past and present. Today the most related to magic and healing rituals of the far past, we can find in the Apulian tarantella called "Pizzica" (sting). Anyway its value aggregation is alive still.

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FOLK FESTIVAL IN SICILY: The Almond Tree in Blossom FOLK FESTIVAL IN SICILY: The Almond Tree in Blossom In Agrigento each year in February, from 60 years in the famous Valley of the Temples (UNESCO site) Sicily organizes a colossal event dedicated to the folk world music and dance hosting folk groups from all part the world.

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The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the PEACE between peoples and nations of the EARTH !

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THANKS for your attention! LETS DANCE WITH US!