Tarantella - A living tradition

Southern Italy, and Calabria in particular, has found a new way to tell its stories. From a strong foundation in timeless tradition, we go beyond familiar horizons, clichés, and stereotypes to embrace new modes of communication that engage new and diverse audiences.

Calabria Sona is a broad project that includes the entire Calabrian region with the intention of enhancing and promoting, through music, sounds, language, rhythms, and dance, the diversity of places and landscapes, their historical richness, and the many cultural traditions, both past and present, that make Calabria unique.

This mission reaches its apogee in the recordings and live performances of Calabrian artists, and in the organization of festivals, events, and shows in Calabria and around the world. The aim is to breathe new life into the authentic roots of popular music of the region in the world music context. It is a varied artistic and cultural movement projecting an artistic identity that embodies the places, traditions, and local cultures from which it is born.

Music, and art in general, powerfully signal the unique identity of an area. Music is just as important a marker of identity and local pride as more immediate elements of cultural heritage such as culinary traditions, local produce, artisanal products, and tangible historical and cultural treasures. Music, song, and dance are capable of encapsulating and synthesizing our identities—where we come from, our history, what makes us unique, our strengths, our culture, and our language. These vibrant, popular, and immediate forms of artistic expression are the roots of our identity.
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Music also tells the story of our land, spinning narratives for people who come to visit and for those who find themselves far away. People everywhere connect with music and dance physically and emotionally. It is the most direct, accessible, and enchanting form of art.

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The project began to take form approximately 15 years ago when we began exploring two key ideas. The first is that music creates community, fosters cultural development, creates employment, and leads to the emergence of new professions. When this principle originates from the traditions, the land, and the passion of a historically rich region like Calabria, it has the potential to serve as a symbol for the entire region and its inhabitants.

The second element was the popular enthusiasm fomenting in public squares and at festivals, and the eagerness of many young people to participate. These youths were keen to engage with everything the beautiful and resilient region of Calabria had to offer, rediscovering their roots and the musical traditions embedded within them.

Over time, Calabria Sona has become an active incubator and vehicle of culture. Our projects have been recognized at the local and international level and act as a bridge between the region and the wider world, fostering cultural exchange and a vibrant dialogue.

With this in mind, making intelligent editorial and political decisions concerning our projects is vital. We promote and incentivize productions that are based on our roots but that go well beyond the stereotypes; and represent Calabria and the South simultaneously steeped in tradition and alive with modern and positive values. The natural starting point is the region, our people, and the authentic spirit of tarantella. This dance began in the margins of society but has become a widespread popular form strongly associated with our region. We strive to represent the region in new and interesting ways and adopt an international outlook. We reimagine tradition and recognize and celebrate the value of musicians studying, working, and performing in Calabria and the positive message they convey.
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Tarantella today is more than a tradition. It is not even what you might define as an “evolving” tradition. It is an art form that is current, alive, and innovative and reflects the contemporary artistic identity of Calabria. Fossilization is the demise of music and dance traditions. To have any meaning, to remain vital and energetic, the canon must be challenged and expanded. If traditions become lifeless monuments and resist change, they are destined to die and be consigned to the bottom draw of history. We consider the ability to evolve and cross borders to be the greatest strength of world folk music.

The endless possibilities offered by revisiting and reworking traditional forms keep folk traditions active and secure their place in future of world music.This new era of popular dance and music offers opportunities that never existed before. Embracing culture and music as a living tradition has allowed many artists to remain in Calabria, practicing their art and sharing their know-how with the next generation. The many tarantella festivals that have emerged over the years have provided an important platform for artists to appear in concert, but they are also an opportunity to engage in collaborative dialogue with other artists and the public in the form of workshops and seminars. They attract visitors from beyond Calabria’s borders and introduce new audiences to this ancient and living art form, providing a boost to local economies while fostering social cohesion. Tarantella draws its audiences in and turns them into active participants in a shared ritual, and there is great pride in the power of this rhythmic and entrancing dance.

Model & Artist: Emy Vaccari
Photography by Salvatore Tambato