TARANTELLA

A whirling Flamenco journey

Friday, July 19th - Junction, Calgary

6 pm Doors, 7 pm Show

Artistic director and dancer Fiona Malena (Berlin) joins forces with dancer Anastassiia La Musa (Calgary), guitarist/singer Ricardo Sánchez (Mexico City) and violinist/multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Lewis (Calgary) in this lively performance rich with spontaneous choreographic and musical interplay.

Based around the Italian legend of the "Tarantalla," which has pagan roots as a wild dance of worship dating back to the Cult of Dionysus, the Tarantella later emerged as a dance meant rid of the poison from the bite of a deadly spider. Movement began slowly and methodically, gradually building to a manic hysteria as the music progresses. The tarantella has since gone through many incarnations; as a graceful, stately dance as well being referenced in countless pieces of music, poetry, folk dance and compositions such as those by Chopin and Liszt.

Our version of Tarantella is a whirling, captivating Flamenco show, capturing glimpses of the Tarantella's innate impulse to dance and hysterical malady. Embellished simple melodies and catchy rhythms merge into a festive celebration, rich with Mediterranean character.