Dancing Italian Culture: Venezia et al. (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sacchetti, Clara; Stolar, Batia
• Is Part Of: Conference proceedings. (2016)
• Page Start: 337
• Page End: 343
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: Dance -- Congresses; Dance -- History and criticism -- Congresses; Dance criticism -- Congresses; 792.8
• DOI: 10.1017/cor.2016.45
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-1255

Abstract

Abstract : How does Le Stelle, an ethnic dance group in the multicultural city of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, represent Italian culture? Our article broaches this question by analyzing Le Stelle's 2012 "Carnivale of Venezia" dance. While the number is meant to evoke the Italian Renaissance, it creatively uses kinetic movements from ballet, Irish step dancing, and the Italian tarantella. It is staged to a 1950s Mantovani song mixed with music from Assassin's Creed II; and it utilizes Italian peasant costuming and Venetian masks. Our paper examines Le Stelle's use of these hybridities in staging Italian culture.