Скачать или смотреть YAGP Phoenix 2026 - LaTarantula - Isabella Sommacampagna

Isabella performing La Tarantula

The Tarantella is one of the most enduring expressions of southern Italian folk culture. Its origins trace back to tarantismo, a medieval belief that the bite of a tarantula caused a physical and emotional frenzy. The traditional “cure” was movement, fast, rhythmic dancing believed to drive the poison from the body. Over time, this ritual evolved from healing into celebration, becoming a joyful and virtuosic folk dance.

The theatrical spirit of the Tarantella was later shaped by Commedia dell’Arte, the popular Renaissance era Italian performance tradition known for its stock characters, physical comedy, masks, and improvisation. Among its most recognizable figures was the jester or Harlequin; clever, playful, and expressive, who used humor and exaggerated movement to tell stories and reflect human emotion.

In this choreography, Pavel “Pasha” Getman reimagines the Tarantella through that jester tradition. Rather than portraying a victim of the bite, the character humorously demonstrates its effects, gradually descending into spirited madness. Isabella’s costume and characterization honor this Renaissance theatrical lineage.

Blending traditional Italian folk steps with classical ballet technique and touches of contemporary movement, this performance by Isabella Sommacampagna brings an ancient folk ritual into a theatrical form; celebrating Italian culture through storytelling, humor, and expressive movement passed down and reimagined across generations.