The Tarantella is one of the oldest Italian folk dance that can be traced back to the middle Ages. Many labelled the tarantella the dance of healing/cure of the sick and courtship. It is also one of the most known, popularized, traditional dance in Italian society. The tarantella is characterized by upbeat music followed by a lead singer. The dance is also accompanied by light and quick steps mixed with teasing, flirtatious gestures between partners. Included in the music is a live 6/8 time counts with frequent playing of the tambourine, in which the women dancing are playing.
The name "tarantella" derives from the city of Taranto, Italy where the dance originated. The name is a polished word that originated from the commonly known spider “tarantula” which comes from the town of Taranto as well. The choreography and name of the dance is based on an old folk belief about the effect of a poisonous spider bite. Legend believed that victims of the tarantella (mostly women) were bitten by tarantula spiders and the only way to get the venom out of their blood streams was to sweat it out by dancing. Allegedly, if they failure to dance out the poison they could experience fatal conditions. While researching this ironic dance, I found many …show more content…
It was considered bad luck to dance the Tarantella alone so it is often danced by couples. The two people performing a tarantella need not be a male and female, for many women dance the tarantella together. In the golden days, the tarantella was also considered a "courting dance" for males and females. In the courtship version of the dance, the woman used swift and energetic gestures to excite the love of her partner, and in return, the man charmed her with his agility, elegance and demonstrations of tenderness. In which during the dance you see a lot of unity and separation movement, and also you see dancers flying into each other’s arms only to spin
The name "tarantella" derives from the city of Taranto, Italy where the dance originated. The name is a polished word that originated from the commonly known spider “tarantula” which comes from the town of Taranto as well. The choreography and name of the dance is based on an old folk belief about the effect of a poisonous spider bite. Legend believed that victims of the tarantella (mostly women) were bitten by tarantula spiders and the only way to get the venom out of their blood streams was to sweat it out by dancing. Allegedly, if they failure to dance out the poison they could experience fatal conditions. While researching this ironic dance, I found many …show more content…
It was considered bad luck to dance the Tarantella alone so it is often danced by couples. The two people performing a tarantella need not be a male and female, for many women dance the tarantella together. In the golden days, the tarantella was also considered a "courting dance" for males and females. In the courtship version of the dance, the woman used swift and energetic gestures to excite the love of her partner, and in return, the man charmed her with his agility, elegance and demonstrations of tenderness. In which during the dance you see a lot of unity and separation movement, and also you see dancers flying into each other’s arms only to spin