Italian Folk Art Federation of America
Past Conferences
Previous conferences of the Italian Folk Art Federation of America have been held in the following locations.
2019: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dances taught: la Polca di Primavera, la Passeggiata, Abballate
Workshops: Italian Children’s Day Camp; Cioccolateria/Working with Chocolate; Making Ratafia di Ciliegia/Cherry Liqueur; Glass Fusion; Italian Language; Uncinetto/Crochet; Genealogy; Mosaico/Creating Glass Tile-Covered Bottle; Making Cappelletti with Mortadella Mousse Filling
2017: Rockford, Illinois
Dances taught: I Sette Passi, Tarantella Triscele, Tamburello
Workshops: IFAFA Choir; Milanese Bobbin Lace-making; Vestedde for St. Joseph’s Day Altar Decorations; Briolate Sausage Bread; Immigrant Histories; Zuppa di Lenticchie; Scopa Italian card game; Italian Superstitions; How to Create a Newsletter like Pappagallo; Italian Christmas Traditions; Speaking Italian; Italian Gift of Music to the World
2015: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dances taught: Tarantella di Fantasia, Tarantella di Girgenti, Tarantella Bim Bom Ba
Workshops: IFAFA Choir; Italian Village Life through Folk Songs; Making Traditional Bombonieri Abruzzesi; Il Malocchio: Healing and Italian Superstitions; the Italian National Anthem; Make the Most of your IFAFA Membership: Resources and IFAFA Website
2013: Boston, Massachusetts
Dances taught: Polca di Lucignano, San Rocco, Bergamasca, La Furlana Bergamasca
Workshops: IFAFA Choir; Venetian Mask Making: History and Craft Session; History of Monte Cassino; Italian Folk Tales; Italian Card Games
2011: Hartford, Connecticut
Dances taught: Passamezzo (Italian Renaissance dance), Sbrando, Tarantella Siciliana Sciacca Tamburello, Knoedeldrahner, Wattentaler Masolka
Workshops: IFAFA Choir; Cooking Demo; Food & the Unification of Italy; Italian Design; Making Rosary Beads; Italian Migrations in Hartford; Musical Tour of Italy
2009: Las Vegas, Nevada
Dances taught: Gigo from Valle d’Aosta, Dances from le Quattro Province, Saltarello Teramano, Dances from Valle del Savena, Ballo in Dodici, Dancing to Live Music
Workshops: Italian Dance Music; Zampogna & Organetto Demonstration; Comparing Watts Towers to Gigli di Nola; Tambourine Workshop; Italian Drinking Songs; Jaw Harp Workshop; Musical Instrument Demonstration; Ballads & Music from le Quattro Province; Music & Songs from Valle del Savena
Videos: Watts Towers Tour; Palio in Arona; Mountains of Cheese, Rivers of Wine; Zoè, Singing Group from Salento, Puglia; Melchiade Benni, Fiddler from Valle del Savena; Carnevale di Ponte Caffaro; Le Sargaillon de Torguor, Dance Group from Valle d’Aosta
2008: Sacramento, California
Dances taught: La Catania, Ballo Abruzzese, Tarantella Calabrese
Workshops: IFAFA Choir; Carretta Siciliana; Italian Fun and Games; Costumes of the Siena Palio; Antique Lace; Panel of Authors of Books about Italians in California; The Italy-China Connection; How to Start a Dance Group
2007: Dallas, Texas
Dances taught: Ciccirinella, Tarantella Napoletana, Furlana Ziguzaine
Workshops: IFAFA Choir; Italian Bobbin Lace; Exploration of the Italian Ballad; Italian Mosaics; Accordion Demonstration; Cheese-Making; Home Wine-Making; Giotto Frescoes of Saint Frances of Assisi
2006: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dances taught: Tango Italiano, Mazurca Piemontese, Tarantella Matriccula
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, Italian Language, Bomboniere, Palm-Weaving, Italian Liqueurs, Infused Olive Oils, Arte Italiana: The Renaissance, Italian Film: Pane e Tulipani, Italian Games: (Bocce, Tombola, and Scopa)
2005: Des Moines, Iowa
Dances taught: Saltarello Abruzzese, Trescone all’Allegria, Tarantella Siciliana
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, Christmas in Italy, St. Joseph Altar, Recruiting Skills, Palm-Weaving, Genealogy, Children’s Day Camp, We Celebrate, Hands-On Cookie-Making, Befana Doll
2004: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dances taught: Tarantella di Carmellina, Pizzica dances of Salento, Valzer Siciliano
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, Regional Folk Music, Italian Costumes, Limoncello, Decorative Breads, Film: Pizzicata, Italian Card Games
2003: Canton, Ohio
Dances taught: Laccio d’Amore, Quadriglia Commandata, Mazurca Baronessa di Carini, Mazurca di Vicenzina, Vitti ‘na Crozza
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, Palm-Weaving, St. Joseph Altar, Conversational Italian, Sistine Chapel, Rosary-Making
2002: San Francisco, California
Dances taught: Codiglione, Ballo del Fioraio, Tarantella Per Cinque, Laccio d’Amore, Tarantella Palermitana, Giga Occitana
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, Genealogy, Building Group Membership, Piatti di Buon Ricordo/Keepsake Plates, Recording an Oral History, Una Storia Segreta, They Brought Them with Them (Folklore, Food, and Traditions)
2000: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Dances taught: Ballo Sardo, Passu Torrau, Codiglione, Ballo dei Carrettieri (Sicilian Whip Dance), Tarantella Siciliana, Countrodanso, Giga, Tresso, Saltarella Amatriciana
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, St. Joseph Cookies, Video: Lucca, Italian Ornaments, Palm-Weaving, Musica Italiana, Bobbin Lace-Making, Italian Candy
1999: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dances taught: Sciotis di Lucignano, Tarantella Tasso, Tarantella Fantasia, Quadriglia di Aviano
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, IFAFA Website, Italian Language, Historian, Children’s Dance Forum, Palm-Weaving, Headpieces and Costumes, Il Ceppo, Italian Cooking Demonstration
1997: Buffalo, New York
Dances taught: Tarantella Napoletana Peppina, Moresca, Tarantella Montemaranese, Tammorriata
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, Bobbin Lace-Making, Authentic Italian Cooking, Italian Women in History, Regional Songs, Tambourine Instruction, Stereotypes in the Media, Percussion (Hand-Drum) Instruction, Songs of the Alps, Treasuring our Past – Facing our Future, Teaching Italian
1995: Rockford, Illinois
Dances taught: Trescone Toscano, Polca di Agrigento, Mazurca Piemontese, Contradanza Siciliana
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, Palm-Weaving, Folklore and our Heritage, Italian Traditional Song, St. Joseph Altar, How to Write and Publish a Newsletter, Italian Conversation, Traditional Festivals of Italy
1993: Dallas, Texas
Dances taught: Ribbon Dance of Tagliacozzo, Ballo Sardo, Tarantella Pizzica, Il Merletto, Ballo Sardo, Ballo di San Calo, Children’s Dances: (Stajare and Tintine Tintone)
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, Fund-Raising, Festa dei Gigli, Accordion Demonstration, Preserving Family Photos, La Befana Skit for Kids, History and Culture of Italy’s Regions, Italian Pronunciation, Bobbin Lace, Bomboniere
1992: Columbus, Ohio
Dances taught: Tarantella, Catina, Mazurca, Peasant Dance
1991: Regional Mini-Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dances taught: La Staja, Sword Dance, La Moresca, Seicento
1990: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Dances taught: Conca Abruzzese, Children’s Dances (Stajiletto, Tintine Tintone, Bal del Truc), Tarantella Siciliana, Saltarella di Frosinone, Polca dei Cavalieri, La Piccinina, Abballate, Codiglione, Zoccolitanz
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, Ancient Art of Tablet Weaving, Performance Style, Getting Grants, Simultaneous Singing and Dancing, Catherine de’ Medici and Folk Dancing, Costume Slide Presentation, Palm-Weaving, Proper Singing Techniques
1989: Utica, New York
Dances taught: Ballo Sardo, Furlana, Quadriglie, Zoccolitanz, Wattentaler Masolka, Knoedeldrahner, Abballati
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, Italian Festivals in Italy, Italian Customs and Traditions in the U.S., Public Relations, Bobbin Lace-Making, Defining Authenticity
1988: Des Moines, Iowa
Dances taught: Tarantella di Donda, Ballo Sardo, Ballo del Candeliero, Ballo della Seggiola, Tarantella Allegro, Bal del Truc, Tarantella Tipica Calabrese, Tarantella Siciliana, Tarantella Barese
Workshops: IFAFA Choir, Quanti: Traditional Calabrian Cookie, Costumes, Palio of Siena,
1987: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dances taught: Tarantella Tipica Calabrese, La Veneziana, Tarantella Barese, Tarantella Caprese/Carmelina, Bal del Truc, Tarantella Turistica, Fischiettando
Workshops: Songs: The Best of Italy, Bobbin Lace-Making, Folk Instruments, Heraldry & Coats of Arms, Wine-Making, Embroidery, Folklore of Southern Italy, Differences in Folk Song Styles between Northern and Southern Italy
1986: Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Dances taught: La Torototelle, Il Ciclamin, Children’s Dances, Tarantella Allegra, Saltarello di Romagna, La Veneziana, Mazurca/Valzer Siciliano
Workshops: Sicilian Marionettes, What Is and What Isn’t a Folk Costume, Dances of the Italian-Speaking Swiss, Panel: Performance Authenticity, Songs of the Italian Immigrants, Intarsio (Inlaid Wood Art), Games (Bocce and Borella)
1985: Monroeville (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania
Dances taught: Graziella Mazurca, Tarantella Tipica Calabrese, Ballo del Qua Qua, Polca dei Cavalieri, Codiglione, Men’s Sword Dance, Ballo della Vendemmia, Tarantella Tasso
Workshops: Italian Sing-Along, Bobbin Lace Instruction, Folk Songs and Dances for Children, Christmas Music from Sicily, Staging and Presentation of Folklore, Costume Slide Presentation
1984: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dances taught: Ballo Sardo, Quadriglia di Aviano, Ballo delle Conche, Harvest Dance
Workshops: Sicilian Songs, Sheet Music Collection of Italian Folk Music, Recruiting, Managing Folk Groups, Italian Folk Costumes, Italian Cooking
1983: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dances taught: Italian March, Quadriglia Commandata, Dances learned during IFAFA-led tour of Italy in Spring of 1983
Workshops: Songs learned on Italy Tour, Revival of Folk Interest in Italy
1982: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dances taught : La Raspa, Italian Mazurca, La Moresca
Workshops: Choreometrics, Italian Folk Songs, Gli Sbandieratori (Flag-Throwers), St. Rocco Festival, Italian Festas and Festivals, Christmas Carols of Italy
1981: New Brunswick, New Jersey
Dances taught: Ballo Sardo, La Furlana, Quadriglia di Aviano, Tarantella Sant’Alfio, Saltarello Abruzzese, Tarantella Tasso, La Ballarella (Tarantella Ciociara)
Workshops: Exercise and Movement, Traditional Folk Instruments, Songs from the Abruzzo, Art of Italian Cooking
1980: Baltimore, Maryland
Dances taught: Basic Folk Steps, Quadrilgia di Aviano, Quadriglia Italiana, Tarantella Napoletana
Workshops: Body Movement for Dance, Proper Breathing Technique and Voice Projection for Singing, Costume Slide Presentation, Italian Folk Tales, Authenticity, Traditional Italian Instruments
1979: New Brunswick, New Jersey
Dances taught: Sword Dance of Ischia, Quadriglia, Tarantella
Workshops: Documenting Village Folklore, Public Relations, Warm-Up Exercises for Singing, Value of Authenticity in Folk Art