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Allan Redfern

A South County Man Learns the Ropes of Gondoliering

While many know of the gondoliers populating Providence’s waterways during WaterFire, few know the individuals operating the oar. Take for example the 64-year-old Allan Redfern, a Narragansett resident, more commonly known by his gondoliering name Dantino. As the oldest member of La Gondola, the organization behind Providence’s gondoliers, Redfern proves following one’s desires does not stop with age.

“About 16 years ago I got involved with WaterFire as a volunteer - still am, too - working on boats, on land, as a boat captain and training people. With a regular appearance at WaterFire I mingled with the gondoliers,” he says. “We’d yell at each other and high five one another. I was always interested in [gondoliering] and I’d kid them about wanting to row. Finally I went over and talked to the gentleman who runs the company. He said, ‘Anytime you want to learn how to row, I’d be happy to give you some pointers and give you time to practice.’ Now this is the third year that I’ve been rowing.”

The transition from volunteer to gondolier, however, requires a bit more passion and finesse than Redfern lets on. The gondola itself is a 36-foot-long, flat-bottomed boat steered using a single 14-foot-long oar. The slightest, most subtle of rows can “make a big difference,” says Redfern, so a gondolier must be capable of dealing with sudden changes in wind direction or water flow.

“Because I live in Narragansett, on Narrow River, I’ve always had a boat of some kind. I spent a lot of time on the water and developed a natural affinity for it - that’s what got me to volunteer for WaterFire. And I just, even for one time, wanted to know what it was like to row a gondola. It looked so fascinating.” In addition to rowing, being a gondolier has forced Redfern to learn how to sing (as all of La Gondola’s gondoliers must sing) and learn Italian. (“None of us are great singers,” admits Redfern, “but some are better than others. We’re gondoliers who can sing; not singers who row a boat.”) Also, he’s enjoyed meeting individuals from all around the world, people who come “just for the experience. Every language you can imagine can be heard on the gondola.”

Anyone interested in meeting Narragansett’s gondolier, or experiencing the romantic thrill of exploring Providence’s waterways, can find La Gondola operating every day with reservations going as late as midnight.

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