Oltre...the Italian for beyond or over, Mara.....the Irish for the sea

Irish Society of Italian Traditional and Modern Folk Music and Dance

Oltremara in Ireland

Oltremara came to be, on the land of  Ireland, an ancient island sculpted by the wind. This unique landscape of hills, lakes and valleys, accepted us as part of itself. Here a poet composer with deep roots crossed our path and behold this was the beginning. Our joint passion for music, poetry and dance sustains us on this journey where warm and cold, green and red come together creating new shades and strong contrasts. Light and shadow struggle together into the depths of this Opera, that attempts to rediscover the human instinct to celebrate, to communicate, to fight, to love and to migrate through the subtle vibration of sound, voice and dance.

Oltremara in Irlanda 

Oltremara nasce in terra d’Irlanda. Un’isola molto antica levigata dal vento. Dolci valli, colline, vento e mare colorano il paesaggio e ci hanno accolto come parte di essi. Qui un poeta compositore dalle radici profonde ci ha trovato ed ecco l’inizio del nostro lavoro. La nostra passione per la musica, la poesia e la danza ci guidano in questo viaggio in cui caldo e freddo, verde e rosso si uniscono creando nuove sfumature e forti contrasti. Luci e ombre lottano insieme nelle profondità di quest’opera che vuole riscoprire l’istinto dell’uomo di celebrare, comunicare, lottare, amare ed emigrare attraverso le vibrazioni sottili del suono, della voce e della danza. 

Live music

Oltremara's vision is to introduce the Mediterranean's musical and folk heritage to a new audience and to create a cultural fusion of the traditional music, song and dance of Southern Italy and Ireland. The band members met in Ireland by chance and all of them come from different musical and dance backgrounds. Inspired by traditional dance and ancient folk tales, all of the band's songs reflect their cultural heritage while experimenting with new sounds to bring a fresh and exciting experience to their audience.

Dance nights

It's an open night where people will be introduced to the dance and free to join in, watch or just listen to the music. Cultural exchange, fun and socializing will be the purpose of this event.

Workshops

It's a class to learn the basic steps about these dances. Everyone can express themselves through body movement and gesture. We are going to pass on the history and meaning of these dances through our personal experience and passion for them. we are hoping to give a greater awareness of these dances which today are part of a living tradition in the South of Italy and can be experienced at first hand in festivals and celebrations by any interested traveler