| IFAFA - Italian Folk Art Federation of America

Anna Marie Fiori	Several years ago Anna Marie Fiori discovered she had a passion for her Italian heritage. Looking for Italian information, she was befriended by Vice Counsel of Italy, Joseph D'Andrea, and by a wonderful friend, Jane P. Ferro, now deceased, then Director of the Italian folk group I Campagnoli of Pittsburgh, PA. For 25 years Anna Marie was a solo singer with I Campagnoli, traveling all over the United States and to Italy. She educated herself in anything Italian, which led her to learn Bobbin lace making. She introduced this ancient craft to IFAFA at a Philadelphia conference. This was the first time anything but song and dance had been demonstrated at a conference. Other workshops held by Anna Marie for IFAFA have been palm-weaving, Befana doll making, and costume and headpiece making. She has held many offices for IFAFA, including Board member, President and Treasurer.
Beatrice Ricotta	Gruppo folcloristico Amici Italiani di Rockford, Illinois As a charter member of Amici Italiani, I have been a part of IFAFA since our troupe became involved. Amici was formed in 1985. I am currently the dance instructor for the troupe. I have been involved with the Board for several years but have not held a position. I am active in our community coordinating high profile local events. Other activities include: Festa Italiana – past booth chair (sausage, kids crafts, admissions) GRIAA (Greater Rockford Italian American Association) – development committee Carnevale – chairperson for 5 years. Discovery Center Children’s Museum’s – Auxiliary president for the 3rd year. The Discovery Center is tied for 4th place ranking nationally. Our fundraisers have included bringing fun to Rockford in the form of the Ace of Cakes, the Dog Whisperer and, this year, MythBusters. Rockford Woman Victory Lap Brunch – co-chair. We doubled the profit we raised for the American Cancer Society’s fight against breast cancer in one year. We raised over $9,000 during the 2008’s 1 ½ hour brunch! Rockford Chamber of Commerce – Ambassador, taking part in ribbon cuttings and social networking activities. Guilford High School Booster Club – Board member chairing Video Game Day and Alumni Committees
Blaise Panizzi	Blaise Panizzi has been a member of Pittsburgh's Italian folk group, I Campagnoli (sponsored by the Italian Sons & Daughters of America) since 1974. He became choreographer and dance instructor under the guidance of Director Jane Ferro and, since Jane's passing, has been Co-Director with Mary Ferro as well as choreographer and dance instructor. He has been a member of IFAFA since its inception and served as President for 2 years. He is currently on IFAFA's Board of Directors. Blaise has been a dance instructor at many of the IFAFA conventions and travels the country sharing his skills with other Italian groups and organizations. Aside from his I Campagnoli responsibilities, Blaise is interested in all types of world music and enjoys concerts or appearances of Italian, Spanish, Ukranian or any other ethnic group/entertainer. Pets keep him busy, dog, cat, hamsters, birds and anything else that might appear at his doorstep. His daughter Mila and son Blaise, Jr. take up the majority of his free time and they are most important to him at this time in his life.
Doris Beckert	Doris era la fondatrice di Balliamo nel 1987 a Sacramento, California. Da quel anno e direttrice ed e una delle tre ballerini originali. She has been the director since then, and is one of three original dancers. Balliamo is sponsored by the Italian Cultural Society, who have been members since 1984. Balliamo has been a member of IFAFA since 1989. Doris has been on the IFAFA Board of Directors since 2004. Balliamo co-hosted the 2002 conference with IQI in San Francisco, and hosted the 2008 conference in Sacramento. Her musical interests include founding I Cantatori, an Italian vocal ensemble, now inactive. She also rings handbells and sings in the choir of Carmichael Presbyterian Church. She has been the church librarian for more than 40 years, and is one of two librarians of the ICS Library.
Jackie Capurro	Jackie Capurro is one of the founding members of Il Quartiere Italiano (the Italian Neighborhood) folk dance troupe, founded in 1972 in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and has served as Dance Instructor, Secretary, President and Artistic Director of that organization. She has been a member of IFAFA since 1987, serving on the Board of Directors since 1993, as Editor of the IFAFA Newsletter Tradizioni since 1994, and as developer of the original fledgling IFAFA website from 1997 through 2007. She has led dance workshops in nearly every IFAFA conference since 1995, and oversaw the hosting of the IFAFA Conference in San Francisco in 2002. Jackie has researched Italian folklore in correspondence with active Italian folk troupes throughout Italy, and she and her family have traveled many times in Europe, including lengthy stays in Italy, occasionally meeting with Italian folk troupes. Aside from her interest in Italian folklore, culture, and language, Jackie pursues interests in additional language study (French, Spanish, and Portuguese), quilting, Photoshop, and travel.
Leslie Gigliotti	Leslie is originally from Southeastern Massachusetts, on the coast. Her father is first generation American, with both of her paternal grandparents being Italian. Her mother is American. Leslie studied Italian in college and also did an internship with the American Consulate in Milan, Italy. Currently she's back restudying Italian to get her language skills back up. She was a founding member of the Fieri Folkloric Dancers, which was in existence until 2007. DC doesn't have a huge Italian population, but it does have the embassy which holds a lot of events and partners with various outfits to promote things if they have an Italian bend. Leslie keeps track of the events as well as current events in Italy and sends out regular emails to all the Italians she knows in the area to keep them informed of such things. Leslie became acquainted with IFAFA in 2004 and attended the Philly conference - she has been a member ever since, and has attended the 2004, 2006 and 2007 conferences. Leslie brings enthusiasm, leadership skills, and a passion for the folk arts.
Linda Coda Brigante	Linda Coda has been a member of Il Quartiere Italiano Folk Dance Troupe of the San Francisco Bay Area for 20 years and a member of IFAFA for 20 years. She is a new Board member, inducted in Sacramento 2008. Linda has been to many IFAFA conferences over the years, helping Jackie Capurro with dance instruction and workshops. Her hobbies include genealogy, gardening and baking. She has traveled extensively through Europe and the United States for pleasure and for genealogical research.
Lorraine Gatti	I joined I Ballerini of Philadelphia in 1979. Back then the group was directed by Elba Gurzau. After a 3-4 year leave, I returned and Paul Torna had taken an active role in helping to revive the group. He did a great job, and it has flourished greatly under his direction. Since then our name has changed to Vivaci and I continued to dance actively until some foot and ankle issues forced me to the sidelines. I have been on the Board since 2001. I work in IT at Verizon and seem to be a "forever student" - always taking classes to further my education. Some of my favorite things: I sing in St. Nick's choir, am addicted to Korean drama, and love to travel. Highest on my agenda right now, is getting in shape for my upcoming trip back to Italia in October. I hope to have healthier feet for this trip and then perhaps dance the Tarantella once again!
Maria Alioto	Maria Alioto è membro di Il Quartiere Italiano and dell'IFAFA fino dal 1989. Sirve al Consiglio d'Amministrazione dal 2002.
Maria Miletta Chobany	Co-Direttrice di I Colori Italiani dell' Italian Club di Dallas, Texas Maria has been a member of the Italian Club of Dallas since 1979 and participated with the Tarantella Dancers in its inaugural performance at the Dallas International Festival in 1980. Maria has co-directed the dance group with Carrie Pollinzi Harris since 1987. Under their direction the group's name was changed to I Colori Italiani (The Colors of Italy) and a children’s group, I Piccoli Colori (The Little Colors), was formed. The ensemble has built its repertoire on dances taught at IFAFA conferences and through videos of Italian performing groups and workshops by Italian choreographer Federica Calvino Prina of Genoa. I Colori Italiani has performed dances throughout Texas and in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Maria has been a member of the Italian Folk Art Federation of America since 1985, attending her first conference that year in Pittsburgh. She has served on its Board of Directors since the early 1990s. I Colori Italiani hosted IFAFA conferences in Dallas, Texas, in 1993 and 2007. Maria also served on the Board of Directors for the Italian Club of Dallas as an officer for 16 years, serving as Secretary, Vice President, and President. Maria is a native of Old Forge, Pennsylvania, and visits family there each year. She enjoys spending time with her children Larissa and Stephen, daughter-in-law Amanda, and grandchildren Sebastian and Adrian; dancing; gardening; traveling; researching the family tree; and locating and visiting grandparents' homesteads in Italy and Poland.
Meri DeLorenzo	Meri DeLorenzo Howard has a B.A. in Italian Language and Literature from the University of Washington. She plays the violin and sings. She has performed Italian folk music for more than 30 years. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, she performed with the group Le Voci Allegri in Seattle. She has operated the website www.italianfolkmusic.com since 1998. The website features lyrics to popular Italian folk songs and links to musical groups throughout Italy and folk instrument resources. She has been a member of IFAFA since 1999 and a Board member for several years. She has traveled extensively throughout Italy and videotaped festivals and folk concerts. Many hours of her footage of Italian folk culture are archived at the University of California Los Angeles through the Italian Oral History Institute.
Patricia Civitate	I am Patricia Civitate and have been a continuous member of IFAFA since 1981. I am pleased to say that I have never had to miss a conference. I also was a part of the IFAFA Folk Dance Study Group that traveled to Italy to research music, costumi and dance. I am founder and director of Gruppo Il Trattenimento Italiano, an Italian folk dance group from Des Moines, IA. We have an adult group and children's group. Members of our group have also attended each year since 1983. I have enjoyed serving on the IFAFA Board for several years and pleased that our group was able to host the conference on two occasions. I have been an organist at our parish church for 66 years and direct the adult choir. I am also the Music Minister for the parish. In my spare time I am director of our Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa and chairperson of our Greater Des Moines Sister Cities/Provincia di Catanzaro Sisterhood/Gemellaggio. I am also a member of the Veneto Committee of our Iowa Sister States organization.
Paul Torna	Direttore del gruppo di ballo, Vivaci, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Paul Torna joined Vivaci in 1990 and has directed the group since 1998. He has served on the IFAFA Board since 2001 and served as President from 2004-2006. Paul has been a member of the Ivy Ridge Lodge of the Sons of Italy since 1994 and is a member of the Associazione Regionale Abruzzese. Aside from Italian dance, Paul collects Cretaceous fossils, fishes and is involved at his parish, Holy Family in Manayunk. He met his wife, Jamie, folk dancing and they have two children, Grace and Michael.
Rita Tonitto	Rita Tonitto is one of the founding members of IFAFA and a Board Member since its inception. Her folk dance troupe, Italian Folk Ensemble Ricordi d'Italia of Fort Lee, New Jersey, was a Charter Member of IFAFA in 1979. Through the years, Rita has served IFAFA in numerous capacities. She has held terms as Secretary and President of the organization and also served on the Editorial Staff and as Editor-in-Chief of the IFAFA newsletter, Tradizioni. She and her dance troupe hosted two of the earliest IFAFA Conferences.
Tina Stanford

Consiglio di Amministrazione