The Società Isole Eolie (SIE) together with the SCA (Sardinian Cultural Association) were proud to present the ‘Italian Islands’ stand at the Piers Festival, Port Melbourne on the 25th of January 2015.
The Landing platform on Princes Pier was opened by musician Salvatore Rossano from the Santa Taranta band, playing his ‘fisarmonica’ and singing some Southern Italian tunes from his motherland.
Members of the SIE presented the traditional ‘tarantella’ dance, performed by Tino Li-Donni and Letizia Terlato. People in the audience were invited up to the stage to learn some basic steps and perform the dance together with twins Vince and John Lo Bianco and Gabriella Martello with Janetta Ziino on the tambourines.
Miss Isole Eolie 2014, Gabriella Martello was in costume in her role as Public Relations, informing passers-by about the Club and its events. John Barnao was providing information on the history of Aeolian immigration to Melbourne with the help of informative panels, books, souvenirs and an authentic ‘baule’ full of memories.
Giulia Biviano, resident pastry chef of the SIE provided two cooking demonstrations from her recipe book ‘Dolci di Casa Nostra’ and Joe Biviano looked after sales of the handmade Four Sisters ‘vinocotto’ and ‘cotognata’.
Janetta Ziino said, “the highlight of the day was definitely the audience participation in the ‘tarantella’ dance, most of which had no Italian blood – you could tell they really enjoyed themselves on stage!”
