top of page
Italian Arts Festival NYC Dancers_edited.jpg

Italian Folk Arts in the Diaspora

Danielle Marie Fusco_PIZZICA (5).PNG

photo by Eric Bandiero for Dance Astoria

Roots and Branches Reimagined!

Performances, classes, and cultural partnerships that honor Italian ancestral roots while celebrating the evolving creativity of the Italian diaspora.

Please fill out the contact form for inquiries.

 


SOLO PERFORMANCE & PRESENTATIONS

Danielle Marie Fusco presents an immersive 1–1.5 hour solo lecture-demonstration performance that explores the living continuum of Italian folk tradition, contemporary theatre, and women’s narratives. Designed to engage, educate, and inspire, this program combines storytelling, movement, and cultural context to create a unique, transformative audience experience.

Program Features:

  • Dance Performances: 2 works representing traditional Italian folk dance and/or contemporary work reflecting the Italian diaspora.

  • Lecture Presentation: Each dance is introduced through a short lecture using visual aids (projector required, provided by the venue), contextualizing cultural history, tradition, and creative process.

  • Audience Engagement: Includes time for Q&A and an opportunity for participants to engage in a mini-class, experiencing the movement firsthand.

This versatile program is ideal for:

  • Museums and Cultural Institutions

  • Universities and Academic Settings

  • Intimate Theatre Spaces Equipped for Dance

  • Festivals, Foundations, Galas, and Luncheons

Danielle’s lecture-demonstration is more than a performance—it is an interactive cultural experience, connecting audiences with Italian heritage, contemporary artistic innovation, and embodied storytelling.

GROUP PERFORMANCES & PRESENTATIONS

Our ensemble aims to craft a modern music & dance production that seamlessly integrates the richness of Italy's traditional dances with contemporary interpretations.  This innovative fusion not only pays homage to the celebrated dances like the Tarantella, Tammuriata, and Pizzica but also delves deeper into the organic roots from which these dances emerged, ensuring authenticity while inviting modern innovation.

Danielle Marie Fusco’s work is designed to be modular, collaborative, and adaptable to a wide range of venues, audiences, and institutional needs. In addition to her evening-length performances and lecture-demonstrations, presenters may expand or customize programming by incorporating additional artists—either as part of Danielle’s curated performance offerings or as independent collaborators booked directly by the presenter.

Additional artists can be:

  • Integrated into an existing evening-length work or performance

  • Included as collaborators for workshops, residencies, or educational programming

  • Presented alongside Danielle’s solo work to create a multi-artist event or series

Danielle’s interdisciplinary background as a dancer, choreographer, aerialist, educator, cultural preservationist, and producer allows her to work fluidly across disciplines and formats. She regularly collaborates with musicians, theatre artists, scholars, ritual practitioners, and multidisciplinary performers, creating programming that is both artistically rich and logistically versatile.

Whether you are seeking a solo performance, a collaborative evening, an immersive workshop series, or a fully produced multidisciplinary event, Danielle’s offerings can be shaped to meet your goals while maintaining artistic integrity, cultural depth, and audience engagement.

Custom programming, scale, and collaboration options are available upon request.

 

Below are photos of artists with whom Danielle Marie Fusco regularly works with at events. These artists may be integrated into Danielle’s existing programs, included as collaborators for workshops or educational offerings, or booked independently for their own specialized programs.  (Photos taken by Eric Bandiero at Dance Astoria)

Danielle is also happy to coordinate and produce a complete, turnkey package—bringing together artists, scheduling, and programming to meet the specific needs of your institution, event, or audience.

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!!!
 

NYC Dance Parade.png
tarantella drumming NYC (2).png
weaving and folk arts.png
nyc italian themed puppetry.png

Mini Gallery Sneak Peek
Upcoming Documentary called The Other Italian Americans
Photos by:  Katie Mollison
(For more information visit @toiadoc on instagram )

© 2023 by Danielle Marie Fusco. Powered and secured by Wix

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
bottom of page