Performers

Il Trattenimento Italiano - Dance Troupe

Il Trattenimento Italiano had its start in 1959, when Patricia Civitate learned La Tarantella Napoletana as a youngster. When Patricia became a Girl Scout Troop Leader, she taught the dance to her troop of girls who represented Italy at various scouting events, whenever international cultures were being presented. In the early 1970s, Pat had a group of eight to ten children who wanted to dance, but La Tarantella Napoletana was the only Italian folk dance she knew.

In 1980, Patricia felt that there had to be more information available about Italian folk dances. She tried writing to Italian-American magazines but received no assistance. Shortly thereafter, she learned about IFAFA in a conversation with Rita Tonitto. Pat attended the 1981 IFAFA Conference in New Jersey and just happened to share a room with Cav. Elba Farabegoli Gurzau. In 1983 she traveled with IFAFA to Italy where she videotaped several dances.

Soon, the group's repertoire grew. In a few years, at an IFAFA Conference in Philadelphia, PA, Pat taught a workshop on teaching Italian dances to children. This presentation was an inspiration to many of the adult dancers to return to their cities and begin forming children's groups. In 1988, Il Trattenimento Italiano hosted the IFAFA Conference in Des Moines.

The group now functions under the auspices of the Italian American Cultural Center in Des Moines, but the dance group itself remains self-governed, under Pat's leadership. As members of the Cultural Center, they enjoy the privileges of state and federal tax exemption.

The adult group of Il Trattenimento Italiano currently consists of 6 men and 8 women. The Ragazzi group is made up of 12 children. New members are recruited through invitations in their newsletter and through personal contact.

The costumes worn during performances represent various regions of Italy; several members have more than one costume and often change during the course of a performance.

The repertoire of Il Trattenimento Italiano includes folk dances, folk tales, and historical background narration. Information on dances and costumes has been gleaned from Cav. Elba Gurzau's book Folk Dances, Costumes and Customs of Italy, at IFAFA conferences, and at other folk dance classes. Additional knowledge, of both dances and costumes, has been passed down through family history, or has been researched during travels in Italy.

Il Trattenimento Italiano Dance Troupe performed at all three All Things Italian festivals

Jesse Mazzocolli - Guitarist

Jesse Mazzocolli was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Las Vegas where he started playing guitar. Jesse is a natural with music, it seems to be in his blood. Explaining his love of music in general and the guitar in particular, he says simply, "I'm Italian." A critic described him by saying "Where his music begins and ends is at question. He seems to live it. His sprit dances to his own guitar notes. Jesse can perform a flawless Paganini with a dexterity that belies a somewhat hedonistic aura..."

Jesse Mazzocolli taught guitar at Southeastern Community College while earning his AA degree. He managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA, became a member of the National Dean's List and served as vice president of Phi Theta Kappa. He currently sings baritone in a "metal" band with David McTavish and plays bass in Cavitation- one of eight local bands featured in the Back Alley Bandfest sponsored by the Cultural & Entertainment district and Main Street Keokuk Inc. He has also played the interlude feature at the CED-sponsored musical event headlining Denver's "folk fusion" trio Nicole Torres & the Affiliates.

This will be Jesse's second appearance at our festival.

Lionel Bottari

Lionel Bottari belongs to a family of traditional Italian entertainers, counting among his skills puppetry and playing the Italian “zampogna” bagpipe. His performance consists of clowning and a musical prologue, as well as the puppet show. Typically, the first act is Pulcinella: Amico di Tutti (Pulcinella, everyone’s friend), followed by Pulcinella: Il Nuovo Caruso, (Pulcinella, the new Caruso). There are also a number of other scenarios in the repetoire for audiences that have seen these shows before. The performance can be presented in English, Italian, or Spanish

This will be Lionel’s second performance at our festival.

Quiliano Anderson was born in the Philippines. He is a voice major who is currently finishing up his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Iowa. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Guitar Performance and Voice from the University of Minnesota and has performed as a tenor in opera and chorus in addition to solo voice work. He has lived and performed on the East Coast – including New Jersey, New York and Virginia – in addition to the Midwest.

In 1996 Quiliano sang as a soloist in the "Voices of Vienna" in St. Paul. He also worked as a professional chorister for the Minnesota Opera Company, after which time he left Minnesota for New York. There he continued voice lessons and performed in his first Mozart opera, "Die EntfŸhrung aus dem Serail," produced by the now defunct Manhattan Opera Ensemble and directed by Nicholas Karousatos.

During this time, he also auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera chorus, and while he did not make the chorus he was invited to callbacks.

After living six months in New York, Quiliano moved to New Jersey, where he took lessons with Scott McCoy, alumnus and former faculty member of the UI voice department. Scott encouraged Quiliano to attend Westminster Choir College, in Princeton New Jersey. Quiliano attended Westminster from 1996-1997, including a performance in the title role of "Candide." During this time, he also performed at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall.
During his time at Westminster, however, Quiliano became increasingly nervous about high tuition fees. After receiving a recommendation from Scott McCoy, he auditioned at the UI, where he was awarded a teaching assistantship. He is now in his second year at the UI, and will audition for the doctoral program on April 26th.

Quiliano says his recent performance in "Cosi fan tutte," or "the Loss of Innocence," was a very good experience for him. The production was directed by guest director Ben Krywosz, the artistic director of Nautilus Music-Theater of St. Paul, MN. Quiliano recently auditioned for a production of "A Little Night Music," by Stephen Sondheim, which will be performed in mid July. Additionally, he says, he will audition for roles whenever he can -- mainly for lyric tenor roles - as well as apply for jobs.

"I feel good about opera," he says, "and I think I'll always be singing."

Quiliano Anderson performed at all three All Things Italian festivals accompanied by Fairfield’s Doug Daller.

2009 Performers

While living in Rome as a 9yr old, Douglas feel in love with the Pulcinella puppet show. That year for Carnivale he dressed up as Pulcinella and thus began his career as a clown. A Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College graduate, Douglas met LIonel Bottari when he joined the Italian American Theater Ensemble, and continues to collaborate with him to this day.

Douglas Grew - Variety Artist, Circus Performer, Clown.

Quiliano Anderson - Tenor

This year, the festival entertainment will be highlighted by the performance of renowned clown, juggler and Italian performance artist Douglas Grew. Doug has performed as a core member of Chicago circus/theater troupe, the Midnight Circus and is a graduate of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Clown College. An associate of CircEsteem/Chicago Youth Circus, Douglas also enjoys teaching. Doug has taught Physical Theater at the college level through the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Commedia dell' Arte workshops at the Chicago Improv Olympic comedy theater.

Home

Food

Performers

Photo Contest Winners