Mickela Mallozzi has entered dozens of cultures through dance
One of the most beautiful memories I have of my travels was in Hanoi. There, in a square, a group of people danced to the rhythm of a loudspeaker. I looked at them amused, until a lady, without saying a word, she took me by the hand and invited me to dance with her . We danced and danced with movements that I learned on the fly, we laughed, we hugged. And all this without sharing a single word: neither I knew Vietnamese nor she Spanish.
Something similar happens to mickey mallozzi every day. “It all started with a blog in 2010, in which I wanted to combine my two passions in life : travel and dance. Later, that became a television series, but the mission has always been the same: to experience the world from dance to dance”, he begins to relate to Traveler.es.
“Over the years, while traveling for fun, I discovered that dancing and making music with the locals when i didn't know her language i could connect with anyone right away , and I soon found myself making new friends everywhere. Those magical experiences inspired me to start Bare Feet ”.
Refers to the travel documentary series Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, Emmy winner, which just released its third season on PBS (available in the US) and on Amazon Prime worldwide. In this case, the protagonist travels in search of her roots, which leads her to learn certain traditional dances from Turkey, Greece and even Spain, where she practices flamenco.
“As I travel the world and shoot more episodes, I get more and more requests from fans who are interested in experiencing the world the same way I am – through music and dance!” explains Mallozzi. That has been her inspiration to join the Tauck cruise company and offer a very special journey aboard the Danube Reflections , which runs through Austria, Slovakia and Germany through the Danube River.
"Along the way, we will enjoy an 'Imperial Night' with dinner and classical music performances in a private Viennese palace and a walking tour through the picturesque Dürnstein -one of the most beautiful towns in Austria-, we will have the option to explore Passau (Germany) or Český Krumlov (Czech Republic), to visit castles, palaces, abbeys and cathedrals. But, above all, during the cruise, we will explore the intersection between travel and dance, while sharing my passion through special workshops and fun dance experiences, from the Schuhplattler dance in Munich to the traditional waltz in Vienna!”
Dancing and walks along the Danube
Starting on April 22, 2020 (departing from Regensburg and ending in Vienna) and October 14 (with the reverse route), these eight-day itineraries can be enjoyed each time by just 130 people, a small group. according to the presenter, and more if the size of the ship is taken into account, as she herself clarifies. “ We want our guests to truly experience the local culture ”, She assures.
In fact, it is not necessary to be a dance freak to participate in them, but it is enough, precisely, to want to delve into the traditions of the area. “The cruise is designed to be fun and entertaining, there are no mandatory activities at all! It's about celebrating local dance traditions in a fun and accessible way , like in my program".
"I like to say that I make new friends dancing with strangers, so this river cruise is an extension of that so that travelers really connect with the local culture”, says the expert, who assures that the more places she visits, the more similarities she finds that connect us between us: “We all need food , shelter, family, love and a little music and dance to live a healthy and happy life. Currently, we focus a lot on what makes us different: Bare Feet constantly reminds me how alike we are, and that's beautiful ”.