How do you dance the tarantella

Movements - Italian Dance

The dance itself is said to be “unlucky” to dance alone, therefore, people dance in couples or groups. However it isusually performed by couples, in which one member dances for the other. Occasionally one person may be kneeling.
The dance partners can be a man and a woman or two women. The steps are nimble and the dancing involves a lot of whirling, flirtatious glances, and close approaches. With multiple couples, the tarantella is a circle dance alternating from clockwise to counter-clockwise and back to clockwise as the music progresses. The dance picks up speed as it goes.
With this, the dance is usually created around the music, with small steps in time to the music and hand gestures to match. The dance is accompanied by a musical instrument.

How to do the Tarantella:

Facing front, cross your right foot in front of the left. Cross your left foot in front of the right. Step your right foot to the side, step your left foot to the side. Repeat this while the woman shakes the tambourine in a clockwise circle in front of her body.
Place your hands on your hips, kick the right foot out to the front keeping it low to the ground, then step on the right foot putting weight on it, slightly in front of the left foot. Touch the ball of your left foot to the ground (without putting your full weight on it) then step in place with the right foot. This sequence is called the tarantella step. Repeat this sequence beginning with a left-foot low, front kick. Repeat again beginning right, then repeat once more beginning with the left. Perform this sequence three more times, traveling backward slightly.
Face your partner. The woman hits the tambourine to her left shoulder, her left hip, then her right hip. Repeat this, making a triangle across the body. Tap the left hand twice with the tambourine. Perform the tarantella step forward twice, beginning with the right foot kick, so that your right shoulders pass each other. Dance the tarantella step twice moving backwards to return to the starting position. This back and forth sequence can be referred to as a "do-si-do." Moving the tambourine twice as quickly, the woman taps her left shoulder then right hip. Repeat this tambourine sequence, then tap the left hand twice with the tambourine. Repeat the "do-si-do."
The man holds the tambourine in his left hand and kneels on his right knee, tapping the tambourine for seven counts of music on his right hip. On count eight, tap it twice. The man continues to kneel for eight more counts of music. Meanwhile, the woman places her hands on her hips and dances eight tarantella steps in place.
The man remains in the kneeling position for the next 16 counts of music, but with the tambourine now shaking above his head. The woman performs eight Tarantella steps forward in a counterclockwise circle around the kneeling man.
Two couples stand opposite each other with right hands reaching center, holding hands, forming a star shape, with left hands holding the tambourines. The couples perform eight tarantella steps simultaneously, the group rotating in a circle clockwise. Clap the tambourine on the last step. Everyone turns to join left hands in the center. Perform the eight tarantella steps again, now turning in the opposite direction. Clap the tambourine on the last step.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5368697_do-tarantella-dance-steps.html

Tarantella: An Italian Folk Dance

February 14, 2021August 15, 2020

There is that familiar upbeat hum playing in your head, you know how it goes, but you are not sure what the name is.

Dancers clad in bright red, white, and crisp green outfits to match the powerful trifecta that represents her flag, whilst merrily playing the tambourine to the beat of the song.

It is none other than the lively Italian Folk Song called Tarantella Napoletana. Viva I’Italia!

Ciao! Deeply rooted in the culture-rich streets of Italy is the multi-faceted folk dance called Tarantella. Modern times today associate it with a dance portraying happiness, mostly at weddings and other Italian type festivals.

However, through the centuries the Tarantella developed from a much shadier place and was oddly even used as a cure. Yes, read that again!

The birthplace of the name of this dance is in the Puglia region in “Italy’s boot” in the Southern part of the country. In a small town called Taranto, this dance is also commonly known amongst locals as the “dance of the spider”.

The reason for this is due to the Wolf Spiders that are found in the town. Hence the term tarantola (tarantula) was coined. It was believed that the bite from this venomous spider was highly toxic and subsequently called tarantism.

During the 15th to 17th centuries, the spider bites were rife apparently. Sadly women of lower social status, such as the peasants, appeared to form the majority of the victims, and they were called the tarantata. This is due to the fact that in those days the townswomen were the ones that had to work in the fields. The female victim would enter a state, resembling a fit which caused extreme restlessness.

Other symptoms associated with the spider bites where blurry vision, fainting spells, and controllable tremors and shaking.

The only available anti-venom known at the time was for the victim to be surrounded by the townsfolk people. The cantautori (musicians) would strum along with instruments such as guitars, tambourines, and mandolins. The pace and beats will differ until the cantautori felt that they have reached the rhythm that would heal the tarantata.

The tarantata victim will then continue with this tempo until they have perspired out the poison left by the Wolf Spider.

Throughout the ages, it has evolved from an anti-venom for the poison of the Wolf Spider, to dance of flirtation and celebration.

The folk dance is now practiced by two pairs, comprising of one man and one woman each. The female counterparts are known to be shaking the tambourine, whilst dancing. The steps are executed in 6/8 time at an upbeat pace, all the qualities we have come to know and appreciate about it.

The composers Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, and Carl Maria von Weber adapted the tarantella for piano play.

The steps and movements of the dance are identified as swift and lively. It is said that the partners are teasing each other in a flirtatious manner. Bellisima!

The brisk, sweet movements of the female counterpart, together with the intoxicating beat of the tambourine is said to be causing much excitement in her male counterpart. The male counterpart’s role is to lure his partner into succumbing to his charms, tender moves and the quickness of his feet on display. How romantic is that?

The dance starts off with an 8-count and is broken down into three parts:

Part One

Partners face each other and start to skip in a counter-clockwise movement in a circle. This is done by 16 counts, broken down into two sets of 8 counts each.
The process is now repeated on the other side (going in a clockwise direction in a circle).

Part Two

The two couples face each other again in a circle.
Bring the right heel forward first for 2 counts.
Place the right heel backward for 2 counts.
Do a 360° turn for 4 counts, until you are back facing the other counterparts.
Repeat steps 2-4 with the left foot now.

Part Three

Facing your other counterparts, use the tambourine and slap your right knee, bringing it to your chest for 4 counts.
Repeat with your left knee.
Repeat with your right knee.
Repeat with your left knee.

Lastly, now put all of the steps together and dance the Tarantella to the Tarantella Napoletana.

It is believed that you never, ever dance the Tarantella alone, or with two persons of the same gender…it is said to be bad luck! After all, you would not want to be banished to the middle of the town having to exhaust yourself doing a cardio workout to rid your system of the venom? Addio!

Categories Community, Culture, Heritage

Lyrics Songs of the 50s - Mambo Italiano translation, lyrics, video, clip

A girl went back to Napoli
Because she missed the scenery
The native dances and the charming songs
But wait a minute, something's wrong

Hey, mambo! Mambo Italiano!
Hey mambo! Mambo italiano
Go, go, go you mixed up sicialiano
All you calabraise-a do the mambo like a crazy with a

Hey mambo, don't wanna tarantella
Hey mambo, no more a mozzarella
Hey mambo! Mambo Italiano!
Try an enchilada with da fish a bac a lab and then a

Hey goombah, I love a how you dance a rhumbah t a gonna go nowhere

Hey mambo! mambo italiano!
Hey mambo! mambo italiano!
Go, go, Joe, shake like a Giovanno
Hello kess-a-deetch-a you getta happy in the feets a

When you mambo italiano
Shake-a Baby shake-a cause i love a when you take a me
Mama say "stop-a or I'm gonna go to papa"
And a hey ja drool you don't a have to go to school

Just make-a wid da beat bambino
It's a like a wine
Kid you good a lookin' but you don't a-know what's cookin' till you

Hey mambo, Mambo italiano
Hey mambo, Mambo italiano
Ho , ho, ho, you mixed up Siciliano
it's a so delish a ev'rybody come copisha

How to mambo italianoooooo!

Italian mambo (translated)

The boy returned to Naples because he missed the scenery there,
The local dances and charming songs.
But wait a minute, something's wrong!
Because now it's...

Hey mambo, Italian mambo*!
Hey hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Come on, go, go, you're confused, Sicilian,
All you Calabrians are mambo dancing like crazy...

Hey, mambo, I don't want tarantella,
Hey, mambo, no more mozzarella.
Hey mambo, Italian mambo,
Try enchilada**** with baccala*****.

Hey buddy I love the way you dance the rumba
But my advice to you friend
Learn how to mambo.
If you're old-fashioned,
You won't get far.

Hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Hey hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Go ahead Joe, dance like crazy.
As they say, you find happiness in a pizzeria,
Dancing the Italian mambo!

Hey dumbass, you don't have to go to school
Just do it with a big girl,
Like wine, it gets better with age.
Baby, you're cute,
But you don't know how to seduce until...

Hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Hey hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Ho, ho, ho, you're confused, Sicilian,
As they say, you find happiness in a pizzeria,
Dancing the Italian mambo!

* - musical style and dance of Cuba, spread in Latin America

** - Italian folk dance accompanied by guitar, tambourine and castanets (in Sicily)

*** is a young Italian cheese from the Campania region. Classic mozzarella is made from black buffalo milk, but cow's milk mozzarella is also on sale

**** - a traditional Mexican dish (pancake with spicy meat filling)

***** - dried cod The girl returned to Napoli
Because she missed the scenery
Native dances and charming songs
But wait a minute, something is wrong

Hey Mambo! Mambo Italian!
Hey Mambo! Mambo Italian
Go go go you mixed specially
All you calabraise-a make mambo like crazy with

Hey Mambo, don't want a tarantella
Hey Mambo, no more mozzarella
Hey Mambo! Mambo Italian!
Try enchilada with da fish bac lab and then

Hey Gooba I love the way you tans remba
But take some advice Peisano
Learn how Mambo
If you be square
You won't go anywhere

Hey Mambo! Mambo Italian!
Hey Mambo! Mambo Italian!
Go Go Joe Shake Like Giovanna
Hello Kess-A-Ichet - And You Guetta Happy In Slander

When You Mambo Italian
Shake-a Baby Shake - Cause I Love It When You Take Me
Mom say "Stop - I'm going to go to daddy"
And hey Ja Drool, you don't have to go to school

Just making it Bambino win
It's like wine
Baby, you look good, but you don't know what's cooking while you're

Hey Mambo, Mambo Italian
Hey Mambo, Mambo Italian
Ho, Ho, Ho, you got Siciliano mixed up
It's so addicted to a Jew, Copisha came

Like Mambo Italiousoooooo!

Italian manbo (translation)

The boy returned to Naples, Because he missed the scenery there,
For local dances and charming songs.
But wait a minute, something's wrong!
Because it's easy ...

Hey, mambo, Italian mambo *!
Hey Hey Mambo Italian Mambo!
Come on, Go, Go, You're confused, Sicilian,
All you Calabians mambo like crazy...

Hey, mambo, I don't want Tarantella,
Hey, Mambo, no more mozzarella.
Hey Mambo, Italian Mambo,
Try Enchilada **** With Baksala *****.

Hey buddy I love the way you dance the rumba
But my advice to you buddy
Learn how to mambo.
IF YOU BE FASHIONABLE,
THEN you won't go far.

Hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Hey Hey Mambo Italian Mambo!
Come on, Go Joe, dance like Crazy.
As they say, you find happiness in a pizzeria
Dancing the Italian mambo!

Hey dumbass, You don't have to go to school,
JUST DO IT WITH A BIG GIRL,
WHICH IS BETTER LIKE WINE.
Baby, You're Pretty,
But you don't know how to lay, yet...

Hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Hey Hey Mambo Italian Mambo!
HO, HO, HO, YOU ARE CONFUSED, SICLISE,
As you say, you find happiness in a pizzeria
Dancing the Italian mambo!

* - Musical style and dance of Cuba, spread in the countries of Latin America

** - Italian folk dance in collaboration with Guitar, Tambourine and Castani (in Sicily)

*** - Young Italian Cheese Originally from the Campania region. Classical mozzarella made from black buffalo milk, one-room

**** - TRADITIONAL MEXICAN DISH (PANKE WITH SPICY MEAT FILLING)

***** - DRIED COD

Orchestra Volare - Mambo Italiano lyrics |[Mambo Italiano]|

A boy went back to Napoli because he missed the scenery
The native dances and the charming songs
But wait a minute, something's wrong
'Cause now it's local dances and charming songs.
But wait a minute, something's wrong!
Because now it's...

Hey mambo, mambo italiano
Hey, hey, mambo, mambo Italiano
Go, go, go, you mixed up Siciliano
All you Calabrese do the mambo like-a crazy with the

Hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Hey hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Go ahead, go ahead, you're confused, Sicilian,
All you Calabrians mambo like crazy...

Hey mambo, don't wanna tarantella
Hey mambo, no more mozzarella

3 Hey mambo, mambo Italiano

Try an enchilada with a fish baccala
Hey Mambo Italian Mambo
Try Enchilada**** with Baccala*****.

Hey goomba, I love how you dance the rumba
But take some advice, paisano
Learn-a how to mambo
If you're gonna be a square
You ain't-a gonna go anywhere I love how you dance the rumba
But my advice to you friend
Learn how to mambo.
If you're old-fashioned,
You won't get far.

Hey mambo, mambo italiano
hey, hey mambo, mambo italiano
Go, go Joe, shake like a tiavanna
E lo che si dice, you get happy in the pizza
When you Mambo italiano

mambo!
Hey hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Go ahead Joe, dance like crazy.
As they say, you find happiness in a pizzeria,
Dancing the Italian mambo!

Hey chadrool, you don't-a have to go to the school
Just make it with a big bambino
It's like vino
Kid, you good-a looking
But you don' t-a know what's cooking till you

Hey dumbass, you don't have to go to school,
Like wine, it gets better with age.
Baby you're pretty
But you don't know how to seduce until...0003 E lo che si dice, you get happy in the pizza
When you mambo italiano!

Hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Hey hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Ho, ho, ho, you're confused, Sicilian,
As they say, you find happiness in a pizzeria,
Dancing the Italian mambo! |[Mambo Italiano]|

A boy went back to Napoli because he missed the scenery
The native dances and the charming songs
But wait a minute, something's wrong
'Cause now it's

The guy returned to Naples because he missed the scenery there,
The local dances and charming songs.
But wait a minute, something's wrong!
Because now it's...

Hey mambo, mambo italiano
Hey, hey, mambo, mambo Italiano
Go, go, go, you mixed up Siciliano
All you Calabrese do the mambo like-a crazy with the

Hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Hey hey mambo, Italian mambo!
Come on, go, go, you're confused, Sicilian,
All you Calabrians mambo like crazy. ..

Hey mambo, don't wanna tarantella
Hey mambo, no more mozzarella
Hey mambo, mambo Italiano , don't want tarantella,
Hey, mambo, no more mozzarella.
Hey Mambo Italian Mambo
Try Enchilada**** with Baccala*****.

Hey goomba, I love how you dance the rumba
But take some advice, paisano
Learn-a how to mambo
If you're gonna be a square
You ain't-a gonna go anywhere

Hey buddy love the way you dance the rumba
If you're old-fashioned,
You won't get far.