The Tradition of Tarantella in Calabria

I searched through my blog posts and was amazed to see I'd never written about tarantella! Given how much I love this traditional Italian dance, I'm shocked I haven't covered it before.

Tarantella 101

If you're not familiar with this addictive music and dance found in southern Italy, allow me to introduce you.

The origins are fuzzy; some say the name "tarantella" came from "tarantula." When someone got bitten by one, they would frantically dance for hours until the poison left their bodies. Nice story.

It's also said that the dance has Greek origins (the south of Calabria was once part of Greece). It may have come from ancient Greek Dionysian rituals.

Whatever the origins, tarantella is popular in both Napoli and Calabria. I can't speak for what it's like in Napoli, but I've done my fair share of dancing here at Calabrian feste!

The Music and the Dance

Before couples could get up close and personal, "Dirty Dancing" style, they would meet at parties and dance the tarantella, a respectable distance apart. At most, women would daintily place their fingers into the hands of their partner.

Some dances happen in a circle. Everyone joins hands, and we dance right, left, and in place while a couple does their own dance in the center.

There's a lot of twirling and tiny step-taking, which, while it doesn't seem difficult, quickly becomes tiring! I'm currently working up to being able to dance two songs in a row without falling down and taking a nap.

The music consists of traditional instruments, including an accordion, bagpipe, tamburello (hand drum), and pipita (a wooden oboe-like instrument). There's a specific rhythm to the tarantella, and (to me, anyway), it's infectious. But all my friends hate it! And Fra makes fun of it.

I realized one thing that draws me to tarantella is that it sounds a bit like zydeco music from Louisiana, which is where my family is from.

Learning the Steps to Tarantella in Calabria

A few years ago, I watched people dance at festivals and wanted to get in there, but I was intimidated, not knowing the steps. Since then, I've taken a few lessons, and I feel more confident for this festa season.

The biggest lesson for me is learning to let a man lead! I've always had difficulty, both in dance and in general, letting a man have control!

Until a few weeks ago, I found a local group that met every Sunday to practice. They weren't professionals. Some had been dancing for fun all their lives; others were newbies like me.

It was so much fun! And a fantastic workout.

We ended the classes by celebrating at a restaurant with our partners and...you guessed it...dancing!

I look forward to seeing my new friends and trying out my new moves at all the festivals this summer.