Il Circolo, the Italian Cultural Society of the Palm Beaches, hosted a pleasant afternoon of fun at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Dr. Ilaria Serra of Florida Atlantic University and Julie Rowe of Jupiter Maltz Theater combined to produce a program called "Italian Folk Dancing History and Review."

While Prof. Serra told the story, a screen above showed the various types of dances of different eras and different regions. Then twenty-one young students, in typical regional costumes, filled the stage performing the three most popular dances, la mazurca, la valzer and la tarantella.

The audience's toe-tapping and clapping raised the atmosphere to a fever pitch, but when the young dancers came into the audience, selecting individuals to join in the dancing, the stage became a mass of smiling, twirling couples of performers and guests. Some opted to remain in the aisles, so the finale was one big dance floor!

Thanks to Julie Rowe and her Jupiter Maltz Theater students and to Dr. Ilaria Serra for sharing her in-depth study of Italian Folk Dancing. The coordinated result made for a most informative and enjoyable afternoon.

Visit Il Circolo's web site www.ilcircolopalmbeach.org for information on more programs.