AMICI ITALIANI


    Amici Italiani

    Authentic Italian Folk Dance Troupe
    of Rockford, Illinois, USA


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    Mailing Address:

    Amici Italiani Dance Troupe
    7020 Clikeman Road
    Rockford, IL 61101 USA

    Rosie Scalise Sheridan, Director
    Bea Giammarese Ricotta, Dance Instructor

    Send email correspondence to Rosie Scalise Sheridan.

    Fees charged for performances (subject to change):
    $150.00 within Rockford area
    $450.00 Chicago
    Please contact us for other locations.

    A Brief History of Amici Italiani

    Amici Italiani (Italian Friends), established in 1985 by Shirley Martignoni Fedeli, gathers Italian-Americans of all ages and backgrounds to learn and share the rich tradition of Italian Folk Dance. The main goals of Amici Italiani are to preserve and share the Italian culture by educating and entertaining audiences with the color and warmth of the rich Italian heritage of its members.

    Detail to authenticity is maintained with Rosie Scalise Sheridan as Director and Bea Giammarese Ricotta as Dance Instructor. Dances performed are researched through IFAFA, the Italian Folk Art Federation of America, Inc., in which Amici Italiani has active membership. (IFAFA includes Italian folk dancers from Massachusetts to California and from Canada to Texas.) These dances, including various Quadriglias, Saltarellos, Mazurcas, Tarantellas, and Codigliones, are taught to members of Amici Italiani by Bea Giammarese Ricotta.


    Amici Italiani
    Our men's costumes are from the medieval town of Gubbio, in the region of Umbria. The costume dates from the tradition of the spectaular Race of the Ceri, il Corso dei Ceri. Members of the guilds, ceraioli, wearing ancient costumes and carrying the Ceri, curious wooden poles over 13 feet tall, race over a distance of three miles to the Basilica of St. Ubaldo.


    Amici Italiani
    Our women are wearing beautiful scarlet skirts; soft, fragile white blouses; and, of course, the traditional apron. We plan to add the traditional headpiece, called la tovaglia, at a later time. Our costumes are of an authentic design described in a costume collection found by Shirley and Gene Fedeli in Italy. The women's costumes are from the city of Frosinone, in the Lazio region.

    In November, 1995, Amici Italiani hosted the national Italian Folk Art Federation of America conference that called members from all parts of the United States: California, Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida. It was one of the largest conventions gathered. Many lectures, presentation, and dance demonstrations educated IFAFA members. An award was given to Amici Italiani for its outstanding services.

    Amici Italiani has performed for Rockford's On the Waterfront Festival; Beattie Is Festival; Fourth of July Celebrations; Ethnic Heritage Museum; Rockford Museum; Festa Italiana; Kinderconcert with the Rockford Symphony; River Fest in Beloit, WI; the Como Inn in Chicago, IL; and also in Merrillville, IN, and Des Moines, IA. The troupe has also performed at various church festivals, civic events, nursing homes, schools, wedding celebrations, and other private parties. The latest honors of the troupe include representing Italy in the 1994 Soccer World Cup Opening Ceremonies at Soldier Field in Chicago. Amici Italiani

    A few years ago, Amici Italiani established a children's troupe. The children range in age from 8 to 12 years. They have danced at Festa Italiana; the Children's Museum; the Discovery Center; First Night; and other events throughout our city.

    LEFT: Members of Amici Italiani with Federica Calvino Prina (dancer and dance instructor from Italy) and Beppe Gambetta (master guitarist from Italy) at the 2000 IFAFA Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.






    DANCE REPERTOIRE

    Northern
    • la Furlana
    • la Quadriglia di Aviano
    • la Veneziana
    • Tyrol: Knoedeldrahner
    • Wattentaler Masolka
    • la Mazurca Piemontese
    • la Staggia
    Central
    • il Trescone
    • il Saltarello di Romagna
    • la Mazurca
    Southern
    • Old Tarantella
    • la Tarantella Napoletana
    • la Tarantella Barese
    • la Tarantella Montevergine
    • la Tarantella Seicento
    Sicily
    • Sicilian Tarantella (tambourine)
    • Peppinella
    • la Moresca
    • Ballo di San Calò
    • Kerkent Mazurca
    • la Tarantella di Catania
    • la Tarantella Siciliana
    • Contraddanza
    Sardinia
    • il Ballo Sardo
    Italy in General
    • il Codiglione
    • la Danza
    • la Polca dei Cavalieri
    • la Quadriglia Italiana
    • Peasant Dance
    Audience Participation Dances
    • la Tarantella
    • il Codiglione
    • il Ballo Sardo
    • Flower Dance



    Members of

    IFAFA logo

    Italian Folk Art Federation of America, Inc.

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    Return to Member Groups of IFAFA.
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