Upcoming Events
Join Us for the New York City Dance Parade
May 16, 2026
The Italian Arts Festival: The Spirit of Italy is thrilled to invite you to march with us in the New York City Dance Parade!
2026 marks our inaugural year participating as one unified collective of Italian-American artists — dancers, musicians, cultural ambassadors, and lovers of Italian folk tradition.
Together, we will fill the streets of New York City with rhythm, movement, and the vibrant spirit of Italy.
This joyful celebration brings together multicultural dance communities from across the city. We will proudly represent Italian folk dance, live music, tambourines, and old-world elegance — honoring our heritage while celebrating in unity.
Whether you are a seasoned performer or simply want to march in celebration, you are invited.
How to Participate
If you would like to join us, please complete our registration form. CLICK HERE
Registration Deadline: March 31, 2026
Once registered with our group, you will receive full details including parade registration instructions and communication updates.
This is more than a parade — it is a celebration of heritage, artistry, and collective spirit.
Come dance in the streets with us.
Come celebrate the Spirit of Italy.
Join Us Today!!!
New Documentary Coming Soon!
Documentary in Production
Challenging stereotypes and exploring identity through unique Italian American voices—there’s a seat at the table for you.
Stay tuned for announcements and upcoming events for a new documentary that Danielle Marie Fusco participated in:
The Other Italian Americans.
Follow @toiadoc for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more details coming soon.
📸 Photo by Katie Mollison
@kamerashoots.nyc
NEW PERFORMANCE TRACK CLASS
Italian Dance in Astoria Queens, NY
Danielle Marie Fusco is back by popular demand, bringing her electrifying Italian Dance Class Series to YUG Wellness in Astoria, Queens. This vibrant five-session journey invites students to move, sweat, celebrate, and reconnect with the living traditions of Southern Italian folk dance in a joyful, community-centered environment.
Each class is a high-energy, heart-opening experience rooted in rhythm, storytelling, and cultural lineage. Students will explore a range of traditional Italian dances including the pizzica, tammuriata, tarantella calabrese, and more. These dances are known for their grounding footwork, expressive arms, dynamic turns, and deep connection to the earth, the drum, and communal celebration. Classes are accessible to all levels—no prior Italian dance experience is required—while still offering depth and challenge for seasoned movers.
Classes take place on Saturdays from 2:30–3:30 p.m. at YUG Wellness in Astoria, Queens, on the following dates:April 25th, May 30th, and June 13th.
Pricing Options
• Drop-in class: $25 per session
Space is limited to ensure a high-quality, immersive experience. Advance registration is required.
To reserve your spot, please register at www.daniellemariefusco.com
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Come dance, connect, and celebrate Italian culture through movement, music, and community.
Wednesdays (Online & in Connecticut)
January 28- March 27
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Italian Dance — All Levels | Hybrid Class
Join us for an embodied celebration of Italian culture through movement, rhythm, and community. This Italian Dance class is offered in a hybrid format, welcoming students in person at Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance in Ridgefield, Connecticut, as well as live via Zoom.
Zoom access details will be emailed to registered participants prior to class.
Open to all levels, this class is designed primarily for adults, with teens welcome when available. No prior dance experience is necessary—this space is for anyone curious about Italian folk traditions, cultural movement, or joyful communal dance.
Rooted in Southern Italian folk traditions and their Indigenous foundations, each class explores both the technical and cultural elements of traditional dance forms. Throughout the semester, students will be introduced to styles such as pizzica, tammurriata, tarantella Calabrese, and more. Classes may build over multiple weeks or revisit material, allowing dancers to deepen their understanding, confidence, and embodied connection to the dances.
Each session typically includes:
A grounding warm-up to connect body and rhythm
Technical instruction and stylistic foundations
Time to dance together in community
Select classes featuring movement combinations or phrases
This class honors Italian dance as a living tradition—one shaped by history, land, ritual, and storytelling—while remaining accessible, welcoming, and alive in the present moment. Whether you are reconnecting with your heritage or discovering these traditions for the first time, you are invited to move, learn, and celebrate together.
Come as you are. Dance with curiosity. Leave feeling connected.
Past Events
I am Honored to Share This News!
Dear Friends, Family & Beloved Community,
With a full and grateful heart, I am beyond excited to announce that I have been selected as a recipient of the Alba Mazza Award for Education and the Arts at the 31st Annual Festival of Song USA Singing Competition & Dinner Dance Show. I take a humble bow of gratitude to a special woman Maria Romania Lindh for seeing me and honoring me with this award. More gratitude than words can express. A heartfelt thank you to Dominic Frasca — friend, arts advocate, and champion of Italian American culture — for your support and belief in my work.
This recognition, rooted in Italian heritage, artistry, and cultural legacy — means more to me than I can express. To be honored in a space that uplifts Italian American artists and continues the beautiful legacy of Silvana Romania is deeply meaningful. For more about this event visit www.festivalofsongusa.org
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Leonard’s Palazzo
555 Northern Blvd, Great Neck, NY
Cocktail Hour at 2:00 PM
Dinner, Show, Dessert & Dancing to follow!
I would be truly honored to celebrate this milestone with you. If you feel called to attend, sponsor, or send a message of congratulations, here are the links:
General Admission:
https://checkout.page/s/HoC92uu8U9qY1
Send a Congratulations:
https://checkout.page/s/yIrxzcoVY6Lr3
Send Congratulations with a Photo of Us:
https://checkout.page/s/VeBYQUEbYX5En
Thank you for your love, your encouragement, and your continued support of my work in education, healing, and the arts.
With deep gratitude and joy,
Danielle Marie Fusco
FESTA DELLA DONNA – 7TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION
Honored to be performing in the 7th Annual Festa della Donna, a beloved variety show tradition celebrating the power, artistry, and legacy of Italian-American women in the arts
Produced by Vanessa Racci Entertainment, this special afternoon kicks off Women’s History Month with an incredible lineup of donne in music, dance, comedy, and spoken word.
Showtime: 3:00 PM
Doors Open: 2:30 PM
Featuring:
Guest of Honor: Cristiana Pegoraro
Vanessa Racci – Vocalist & Producer
Danielle Marie Fusco – Dance
Dina Gregory – Spoken Word
Jessa V. Salerno – Vocalist
Regina DeCicco – Comedian
Triad Theater
158 W. 72nd Street (2nd Floor)
Between Amsterdam & Columbus Avenues
Tickets:
• $40 General Admission
• $50 VIP Seating
• $30 Mezzanine
Come celebrate Italian-American women, ancestral creativity, and the beauty of our voices, bodies, and stories—onstage and together.
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DANCE ASTORIA PERFORMANCE
Workshop & Performance with Danielle Marie Fusco
Presented by Long Island Traditions
📍 Westbury Arts, 255 Schenck Ave, Westbury, NY 11590
📅 Friday, October 17th | ⏰ 5:30–8:30 PM
Join Danielle Marie Fusco for a powerful evening celebrating Italian dance, music, and culture. Hosted by Long Island Traditions, this event features a heartfelt solo performance inspired by the mystical and healing traditions of Southern Italy, blending ancestral memory with contemporary expression.
Danielle draws from her time studying tarantella in Italy and infuses her work with folk healing practices, family heritage, and spiritual reverence. The event includes both a performance and a participatory community dance workshop open to all backgrounds.
This is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the ritual, movement, and magic of Italian ancestral traditions.
🎟️ Free and open to the public.
San Gennaro Festival: Celebrate the Spirit of Italy
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: All Saints Church, 139 West Rocks Road, Norwalk, CT
Join Danielle Marie Fusco and an incredible cast of dancers and musicians for an uplifting celebration of Italian culture and tradition. This special San Gennaro Festival performance honors the rich rhythms and roots of Italian heritage through vibrant tarantella and contemporary dance, weaving and live music.
Enjoy a soulful journey of movement, community, and cultural pride—featuring performances by Danielle Marie Fusco, Dina Gregory, Austin Vryhof, Amy Piantaggini, and Owen Ruck.
This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to celebrate the joy and spirit of Italy!
All Soul's Day Event
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2 12–3 PM
ALL SOULS DAY: Southern Italian Ritual & Ancestral Veneration
A sacred gathering honoring the traditions of ritual, healing, and connection to those who came before us.
Includes:
Sacred altar creation ceremony
Traditional Italian scopa (broom) making workshop
Italian ritual folk dance in the event room
Ancestral healing hour in the salt cave
$85 (Early Bird $75 before Oct 17)
with Danielle Marie Fusco
*Must book with Roslyn Salt Cave*
Roslyn Salt Cave – 17 Lumber Rd, Roslyn, NY
Call to Reserve: (516) 629-7089
Il Rituale at Danza all'Imbrunire
by Danielle Marie Fusco
FILMED IN VILLAPIANA CALABRIA
Danza all'imbrunire July 9, 2024
Borgo Antico, Vallapiana Centro
Danielle Marie Fusco's repertoire is an autobiographical, physical narrative that explores her journey of ancestral healing and veneration of Pre-Pagan Italian culture through a series of shamanic initiation rites, channelings, lineage healing, and research. Utilizing elements of dance and physical theatre, Danielle’s work carves out the stories of one of history’s most intriguing and mystical European civilizations.
Her work visually and physically transforms a performance space, captivating the audience and immersing them into a genuine demonstration of the shamanic practices prevalent among southern Italian healers. Inspired by "Le Donne de la Notte," the persecuted society of wise women, Danielle sheds light on their teachings of the mysteries of the universe and our natural connection to spirit and magic.
Guided by this inspiration, Danielle's Il Rituale encourages deeper introspection into our most fundamental principles of life, urging us to recognize our shared heritage and contemplate our collective aspirations for the future. Dance and ritual are deeply intertwined in Italian culture, inseparable when one embarks on a journey to manifest magic. This performance delves into the magical realm where unity with the universe allows for perceptions beyond verbal expression. Through her piece, Danielle Marie Fusco's Il Rituale aims to bridge the cosmic connection between the audience and the performers, using the powerful mediums of dance, ritual, incense, and LED candles to communicate age-old legends and traditions.
Mark your calendars for Festa Della Donna on March 9th, 2025, at the Columbus Citizens Foundation!in NYC
Exciting News!
I’m honored to be presenting my newest work, La Madre, at the 6th Annual Festa Della Donna—a celebration of International Women’s Day through the arts!
Join me and an incredible lineup of talented donne as we bring Italian culture to life with music, dance, spoken word, and comedy. Produced by Vanessa Racci Entertainment, this special event is not to be missed!
Sunday, March 9th | 3:00 PM
Columbus Citizens Foundation, NYC
Get your tickets: columbuscitizens.org
LIVE Virtual Tarantella Classes from NYC to Italy and beyond! 2026 DATES ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING SOON!
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