THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE FOUNDATION

Preserving Italian Dances

THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE FOUNDATION / October 9, 2024 / Blog /

by Anna Harsh

Italy is known for its rich cultural heritage, including its vibrant dance traditions. As a dancer and researcher, I have dedicated myself to preserving and promoting Italian dance for future generations. I started dancing as soon as I could walk. For over 500 years, artistic talent has been a revered tradition in my Italian family’s lineage. Dancing was built into my blood and I am grateful for the talent to share my heritage through movement.

Both of my maternal and paternal grandparents came to the United States in the early 1920’s from Reggio di Calabria. They passed on much of their culture through teaching me how to cook, sing, dance and even sew. Needless to say, I admired them and was greatly inspired. When I attended college to gain my degree in dance, my final thesis project was on Italian dance and what you can learn from seeing cultural dance. I had a hard time finding any books, videos or substantial research done to preserve Italian dances in the United States. So, I decided to change that for the future. I studied with dancers in Italy and brought back the information to United States to perform, preserve, and pass on to the next generation. This research project was the grass roots of how my dance company began.

Today, I continue traveling to Italy and studying with several renowned dance instructors. Through their guidance, I gained a deeper understanding of the history and significance of Italian dance styles and in turn learned so much about myself. This experience inspired me to write two books that delve into the complexities of Italian dance along with my research: La Danza: Conflict, Passion, and Healing and The Italian Dance Quest. These books serve as educational resources for dancers and enthusiasts interested in learning more about the cultural roots of Italian dance. It was important for me to see books on Italian dance to feel represented.

In addition to my written works, I have also produced a dance documentary titled La Danza – Bridging Time Through Dance. This film showcases my touring company called Allegro Dance Company along with the beauty and diversity of Italian dance styles, highlighting their evolution over time and the impact they have on contemporary dance practices. Through this visual medium, I hope to raise awareness about the importance of preserving Italian dance traditions. From the waltzes and saltarellos to the fiery tarantellas, dance tells our story.

As each generation passes away, I worry that the beautiful traditional dances that hold our stories will disappear. Together, we can ensure that these treasured art forms continue to thrive and inspire future generations of dancers. Let’s keep the spirit of Italian dance alive for years to come. Balliamo!

For more information visit www.allegrodancecompany.net.

Anna Harsh holds an M.A degree in Communication, B.A degree in Dance, E-RYT200 Yoga, and certified in Pilates. She has been teaching and performing dance for over 30 years.

PAROLE DIVERTENTI IN ITALIANO!

THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE FOUNDATION / September 22, 2024 / Blog, Italian Translation /

Di Margo Sorenson

“Non fare il salame!” È divertente giocare con le parole (non devi essere uno scrittore per saperlo!) e le espressioni italiane possono spesso essere molto più divertenti da esplorare e da usare rispetto alle espressioni inglesi. Naturalmente, avendo trascorso la mia infanzia tra Napoli e Bari, sono molto obiettivo e imparziale al riguardo. 😉 È divertente esaminare le molteplici sfumature degli idiomi italiani ; aggiungono profondità e sfumature di significato a quelle che altrimenti potrebbero essere affermazioni noiose.

“Avere le mani in pasta” – essere al comando – e sappiamo chi spesso fa la pasta in la famiglia – la nonna. Impastare, arrotolare, scavare, schiaffeggiare: lei è sicuramente il capo dell’impasto. Se hai fatto la pasta tu stesso o hai visto la pasta fatta a mano, lo sai per certo.

“Non tutte le ciambelle hanno un buco” : Questo significato spesso dipende dal contesto in cui viene utilizzato, ma, semplicemente, non tutto va come pensi o speri, ma potrebbe andare bene lo stesso. La ciambella può essere farcita con crema o marmellata, nonostante sia priva del buco. Possiamo accontentarci di quello che abbiamo, almeno è una ciambella, guardiamo il lato positivo. 😊

“Campa cavallo che l’erbe cresce” : “Vivi, cavallo; l’erba crescerà”: significa che dovrai aspettare molto tempo prima che la cosa che stai aspettando accada davvero. Questo è spesso abbreviato in “campa cavallo” ed è un’espressione molto comune, un altro modo per dire “fat chance”. Immaginate il povero, affamato, sventurato cavallo, che aspetta e aspetta che l’erba cresca per poter mangiare.

“Avere le fette di prosciutto sugli occhi” : Avere il prosciutto che ti copre gli occhi, il che significa che sei negligente o distratto, o forse così innamorato da non vedere la verità! È un po’ difficile vedere attraverso il prosciutto, non importa quanto sia affettato sottilmente.

“Non fare il salame” : Sappiamo che il salame non è articolato o comunicativo o in grado di fare qualcosa da solo. In altre parole, non essere stupido!

“Metti l’asino dove lo vuole il padrone” : Fai quello che dice il tuo capo, anche se non sei d’accordo, per evitare qualsiasi o discussione o confusione, o essere licenziato!

“Conosco i miei polli” – significa che sai cosa stai facendo – sai cosa sta facendo la gente, e non ti farai ingannare.

È divertente vedere come in queste espressioni non sia presente solo il cibo, ma anche l’approccio casalingo, di buon senso e concreto alla vita che si trova in Italia. Godetevi queste espressioni e scopritene molte altre!

Per alcune di queste espressioni, grazie mille alla mia amica, Carmela Cavaliere, esperta di ospitalità presso la lussuosa Villa Francesco a Positano. Sì, è la stessa Carmela che appare come personaggio nel mio romanzo giallo Adult/Young adult ambientato a Positano, SECRETS IN TRANSLATION (Fitrzroy Books, 2018), per il quale è stata di grande aiuto per la ricerca. Su Instagram, ti illuminerà a @carmencitaitaly80. Condivide anche la ricetta imperdibile della sua famiglia per il limoncello qui (O fai clic sulle immagini sottostanti):

Autrice di oltre trenta libri tradizionalmente pubblicati per giovani lettori, Margo Sorenson ha trascorso i primi sette anni della sua vita in Spagna e Italia, divorando libri e cibo italiano e parla ancora (o prova!) le lingue della sua infanzia. Il suo romanzo per adulti/giovani più recente, SECRETS IN TRANSLATION (Fitzroy Books, ottobre 2018), è ambientato a Positano, con l’eroina Alessandra, la cui capacità di parlare italiano, con la sua comprensione degli idiomi italiani, la aiuta a sentirsi a casa in L’Italia, ancora una volta, e risolverà un mistero che minaccia coloro che ama. Per ulteriori informazioni su come ordinare SECRETS IN TRANSLATION e gli altri libri di Margo, come il libro illustrato SPAGHETTI SMILES, (vedi una tendenza italiana, qui? 😉), visita il sito web di Margo all’indirizzo www.margosorenson.com.

Puoi seguire Margo sui social media

Twitter/X: @ipapaverison

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/margosorenson/

Instagram: @margosorensonwriter

Bluesky: @margosorenson.bsky.social

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/60982.Margo_Sorenson

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/YAItalia

LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/author/sorensonmargo

Italian Word Fun!

THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE FOUNDATION / September 22, 2024 / Blog /

By Margo Sorenson

“Don’t be a salame!” Words are fun to play with, (you don’t have to be a writer to know that!) and Italian expressions can often be much more entertaining to explore and to use than English expressions. Of course, having spent my childhood in Napoli and Bari, I’m very objective and impartial about that. 😉 It’s enjoyable to examine the many nuances of Italian idioms; they add depth and shades of meaning to what could otherwise be boring, ho-hum statements.

Avere le mani in pasta: “To have your hands in the pasta dough”—to be in charge—and we know who often makes the pasta in la famiglia—the nonna. Kneading, rolling, digging in, slapping around—she’s the boss of the dough, for sure. If you’ve made pasta yourself or seen pasta made by hand, you know this for a fact.

Non tutte le ciambelle escono col buco: “Not every doughnut has a hole in it.” This meaning often depends on the context in which it’s used, but, simply, not everything turns out the way you think or hope it will, but, it could be good, regardless. The doughnut could be cream-filled or jam-filled, despite its lack of a hole. We can make do with what we have—at least it’s a doughnut—let’s look on the bright side. 😊

Avere le fette di prosciutto sugli occhi: To have prosciutto covering your eyes—meaning you are careless or absent-minded—or maybe so in love that you don’t see the truth! It’s a little difficult to see through prosciutto, no matter how thinly it’s sliced.

Non fare il salame: “Don’t make/be a salame”—we know salame isn’t articulate or communicative or able to do anything by itself in the slightest. In other words, don’t be stupid!

Campa cavallo che l’erbe cresce: “Live, horse; the grass will grow”—means you’ll have to wait a long time before the thing you’re waiting for actually happens. This is often shortened to “campa cavallo” and is a very common expression—another way of saying “fat chance.” Imagine the poor, hungry, woebegone horse, waiting and waiting for the grass to grow so he can eat.

Metti l’asino dove vuole il padrone: “Put the donkey where the owner wants it.” Do what your boss says, even if you don’t agree, to avoid any discussion or argument or kerfluffle—or being fired!

Conosco i miei polli: “I know my chickens”—means, you know what you’re doing—you know what people are up to, and you won’t be fooled.

It’s fun to see how not only food is featured in these expressions, but also the down-home, commonsense, matter-of-fact approach to life found in Italy. Enjoy these expressions and discover many others!

For some of these expressions, grazie mille to my amica, Carmela Cavaliere, hospitality maven at the luxurious Villa Francesco in Positano, Italy (https://www.villafrancescopositano.it/en/). Yes, she’s the very same Carmela that appears as a character in my Adult/Young adult mystery novel that takes place in Positano, SECRETS IN TRANSLATION (Fitrzroy Books, 2018), for which she was a wonderful help for research. On Instagram, she will enlighten you at @carmencitaitaly80. She also shares her family’s no-fail recipe for Limoncello here (or click the images below):

Author of over thirty traditionally-published books for young readers, Margo Sorenson spent the first seven years of her life in Spain and Italy, devouring books and Italian food and still speaks (or tries!) her childhood languages. Her most recent Adult/Young Adult novel, SECRETS IN TRANSLATION (Fitzroy Books, October 2018), takes place in Positano, with heroine Alessandra, whose being able to speak Italian—with her understanding of Italian idioms—helps her to feel at home in Italy, once again—and solve a mystery that threatens those she loves. For more information on ordering SECRETS IN TRANSLATION and Margo’s other books, such as picture book SPAGHETTI SMILES, (do you see an Italian trend, here? 😉) please visit Margo’s website at www.margosorenson.com.

You can follow Margo on social media:

Twitter/X: @ipapaverison

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/margosorenson/

Instagram: @margosorensonwriter

Bluesky: @margosorenson.bsky.social

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/60982.Margo_Sorenson

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/YAItalia

LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/author/sorensonmargo

The Advantage of Being Multilingual

THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE FOUNDATION / September 5, 2024 / Blog /

By Orianna Soublette

Living in South Florida my entire life, I have grown up around individuals from a variety of cultures. I am a native English and Spanish speaker, and I learned Italian in college. My parents are Venezuelan immigrants and I have witnessed firsthand the importance of language comprehension for connecting with people from different backgrounds. Undoubtedly, the ability to communicate with another person is useful on a day-to-day basis. However, the role that the comprehension of foreign languages plays on empathizing with others on a psychological level is often overlooked. Throughout my life, I have seen how my multilingual peers have thrived in social spaces with people of various backgrounds, leading me to imagine that these individuals are more likely to have successful relationships in the workplace as well. That being said, I decided to pursue two majors (psychology and Italian) because one of my goals is to study psycholinguistics, specifically the mechanisms of language acquisition in children and emotional expression in monolingual, bilingual, and trilingual children and adults. Language studies in the U.S. often involve Spanish and English speakers and, although I am interested in studying those languages, I would also like to incorporate Italian speakers into my studies. There is a rapidly growing Italian population in South Florida, which I have learned from my involvement in Florida Atlantic University’s Italian Program (the most complete Italian program in the Southeastern United States). Aside from conducting research, my goal in the long-term is to establish multilingual academies for children grades K-12.

My Italian Journey

THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE FOUNDATION / August 26, 2024 / Blog, Travel /

By Matthew Mancini

As my surname suggests, I am a first-generation American on my father’s side. My father is Italian, and his family is from Monte San Giovanni—a small town in Lazio. Despite my father’s proficiency in the Italian language, he never taught my siblings or me the beautiful language. Thus, I took it upon myself to reconnect with my heritage and learn Italian in college. This semester, I took ITAL 1011: Italian Language and Culture Beginner, Intensive. Next semester, I am registered to take ITAL 1511: Italian Language and Culture Intermediate, Intensive (please find proof of registration below).

My Italian family traditions are of the utmost importance to me: cooking handmade gnocchi with my Nonna, playing “Asso Pigliatutto” with my uncle, and practicing speaking Italian with my father. My family and I have visited Italy twice. During our first trip, we stayed with extended family in Monte San Giovanni, traveling then to Rome, Florence, and Venice. During our second visit, we traveled around Southern Italy, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast. The natural beauty of the country is breathtaking, and the Italian people fill the nation with a charming vibrance.

Italian history, literature, and art have always fascinated me. So much so, this semester, I took a course (IDST 1491: Dante’s Afterlife in Popular Culture) on Dante Alighieri’s Commedia. Reading this masterpiece has deepened my appreciation for the beauty of Italian culture!

Preserving Italian Dances

PAROLE DIVERTENTI IN ITALIANO!

Italian Word Fun!

The Advantage of Being Multilingual

My Italian Journey

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