The Mangia Bevi Balla (Eat Drink Dance) night brought together different generations under the banner of Tuscan cultural identity in Australia.
The event, which sold every ticket and had 160 attendees, was organised by the youth subcommittee Le Rinascenti with the support of the club’s long-standing committee, active in Melbourne since 1969.
Guests enjoyed the well-established format of a four-course dinner, welcome aperitif, music and dancing. This year, though, was given a fresh and modern twist.
Michelle Travaglini, the event’s host and a key figure in engaging younger generations, welcomed the crowd. “Welcome to this special evening that reminds us of the dinner dances we grew up with,” she said.
By her side was Vice President Tellio Grilli, originally from Massa-Carrara and a longstanding figure in the club, acting as the “president for the evening” in the absence of President Giancarlo Perpoli.
Grilli took the floor to thank both the new and old committee for their teamwork. “The club has been here for 56 years and thanks to Le Rinascenti, we want to keep writing our story for at least another 56,” he said.
In the kitchen, the stars of the evening were Guido Pozzobon and Angela Zavattieri, joined by Rina Paoli, a Sicilian who has long been involved with the club and is now the soul of the kitchen team.
The menu included Tuscan specialties such as peposo, porchetta and peperonata. The pasta with Tuscan ragù, porcini mushrooms, and kale was prepared by Adam from the Decca restaurant. To finish, a sweet tribute to tradition: castagnaccio with chestnut gelato, served with vinsanto.
Each table was decorated with a central orange arrangement and a bottle of D.O.C. Chianti. Under one lucky plate on each table was also a note informing the winner that they got to take home the beautiful centrepiece.
During dinner, guests were treated to a conversation on the “Couch with Zia Mish”, an informal interview of Charlie Aitken led by Michelle.
Aitken is a young Italian-Australian and founder of the social media page Italian Soul, which explores Italian and Tuscan culture and his own family roots. It was a moment created to share the stories of those who, despite growing up far from their homeland, still feel the need to maintain their connection to the Bel Paese.
The initiative Le Rinascenti was born from this very need; to ensure continuity for a cultural heritage at risk of fading. Established during the 2023 general assembly, the subcommittee embraced the club’s call to engage the younger generation.
“They told us, ‘If you care about the club, help us,’” said subcommittee members Cinzia, Michelle and Tania (now Ciampa) Travaglini. It was a team effort that required days of preparation, from decorations to cooking and logistics.
The reason behind all this work? Tania explained it best: “We love what our parents passed down to us.”
Still, the mission entrusted to the subcommittee isn’t easy, as the vice president pointed out: “I was 20 when I first started coming here; people came to the club to meet girls,” Grilli recalled with a smile.
“Today, things have changed a lot, but the desire to pass on our customs remains and, despite the challenges, we keep trying.”
While the event respected the traditional dinner dance format, it struck a balance with contemporary tastes. Alongside ballroom dancing, there was also pop and dance music curated by DJ Morena, to engage all generations.
It was a conscious choice, as the organisers said the club “doesn’t want to abandon traditions, but to find new ways to share them”.
