ISDA's I CAMPAGNOLI
of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Mailing Address:
I Campagnoli Dance Troupe
c/o Blaise Panizzi
300 Wheeler Drive
McKees Rocks, PA 15136 USA
Mary Ferro Salopek, Co-Director/Choral Director
Send email correspondence to Blaise Panizzi.
Fees are dictated by travel requirements: food, lodging expenses, and fees incurred for musicians, director and choreographer.
A Brief History of I Campagnoli
As perhaps one of the oldest Italian song and dance troupes, the thirty-five member troupe was then inherited by Director Jane P. Ferro in 1975. Jane put the troupe on wheels. Cleveland, Boston, Detroit, New Jersey, Denver, Clarksburg, Philadelphia, were cities where I Campagnoli would subsequently perform, as well as engagements in all classic venues in Pittsburgh which the troupe calls home. The crowning glory for the members however, was when they were hired and hosted in Orlando, Florida's Epcot Center and in Virginia's Busch Gardens to officially open their respective Italian Villages.
The services of a talented dancer Blaise Panizzi who had studied dance and, quite frankly, had literally grown to manhood as a member of I Campagnoli, were engaged by director Ferro. It was quite evident that this young man was not only a fluent folk dancer, but was extremely effective in teaching. Blaise has enjoyed the position of choreographer and dance instructor for I Campagnoli for more than 20 years. Blaise has also found time to conduct dance workshops throughout the United States. His services have proven invaluable to fledgling groups and to long-time groups in revitalizing their dance repertoire.
Jane's daughter Mary Ferro Salopek, a graduate of Duquesne University with a major in voice, had attended rehearsals with her parents since age 6. It was only natural that her repertoire would be as vast as her mother's. Mary has served as Director of the choral group of I Campagnoli since her mother passed away in 1998.
ISDA's I Campagnoli remains active and enjoys traveling when hired to perform outside of Pittsburgh. The content of a show is determined by its length and also by regional audiences. I Campagnoli's repertoire is vast and can encompass all of Italy, but they usually try to include more dances and songs indigenous to the region of the audience. Three, sometimes four, musicians accompany I Campagnoli. Accordion, guitar and bass are the prevailing instruments, however, when stipends provided will permit, a mandolinist is hired to complete the ensemble.
Several of I Campagnoli's performances have been professionally videotaped, and the group has also studio-recorded an audiocassette of Italian folk songs and dance music. In addition, in 1997, Jane Ferro published a book of notated music with lyrics called I Miei Ricordi which contains many songs which had never been notated before. These items are sold to raise funds for the troupe. I Campagnoli also possess a vast library of sheet music of Italian folk songs which can be duplicated; reproduction fees are based on availability and amount of music requested.
Members of I Campagnoli performing the Sicilian Whip Dance
at the 2000 IFAFA Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Membersof I Campagnoli and the Pittsburgh community have hosted several IFAFA Conferences throughout the years, most recently in the fall of 2000.
Members of
Italian Folk Art Federation of America, Inc.
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