How to do the tarantella italian dance


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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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."
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

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Tarantella: An Italian Folk Dance

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

  1. 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.
  2. The process is now repeated on the other side (going in a clockwise direction in a circle).

Part Two

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

Part Three

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

Dance tarantella (tarantella) - the musical symbol of Italy

Tarantella (tarantella) - the most famous Italian dance, which has become a real symbol of the country and the Italian nation.

This bright and lively dance is shrouded in centuries-old legends and myths, one way or another connected with poisonous tarantula spiders. The legend says that in the 14th-15th centuries in the southern regions of Italy near the city of Taranto, tarantulas bred and bit women. Of course, only commoners who worked in the field were bitten. Under the influence of the poison of tarantulas, poor women fell ill with tarantism (tarantism is a medical term for one of the forms of hysterical behavior). There was talk of a real epidemic. A method of treating those who fell into a trance with the help of dance was proposed. Musicians surrounded the woman and played music at a fast pace, forcing the patient to dance. Sometimes this dance was called the spider dance.

One of the older legends says that the tarantella dates back to the time of sacrifices, when a beauty sacrificed to spiders, making quick movements, tried to avoid being bitten.

There is also a version that in the old days, the effects of a tarantula bite, of which there are plenty in southern Italy today, were eliminated with the help of profuse sweating. Dance until the seventh sweat and was tarantella. Wandering musicians were always ready to come to the aid of a bitten spider. Everyone who happened to be nearby hurried to help. So the dance became pair and group. Later, the tarantella was considered the personification of lust, because frantically dancing women have always attracted increased male attention.

The noble gentlemen also liked the Tarantella. In the 17th century, the tarantella began to be danced even at balls. By that time, the epidemic of tarantism had also ceased.

Tarantella music is always improvisation with great sound extensions and cadence additions. They perform tarantella on various musical instruments - mandolin, accordion, guitar, but always without fail to the accompaniment of tambourine and castanets.



Tarantella has become a classic. This dance can be seen in the theater and cinema, it has penetrated into literature and painting. We can safely say that the tarantella is part of the soul of a true Italian. Today the tarantella is ubiquitous in Italy, but is still more popular in the southern regions. No holiday is complete without this incendiary dance. In different regions of Italy, the tarantella has its own characteristics, and sometimes a special name. Tarantellas differ in different regions and in the degree of fury of the dance, in some places it can even look somewhat sedate.

No Italian carnival is complete without a tarantella!

Neapolitan Tarantella:

Neapolitan Tarantella on accordion:

Neapolitan Tarantella performed by the orchestra. Vocal by Renzo Arbore:

Neapolitan tarantella performed by Mario Lanza:

Neapolitan tarantella Pulcinella:

Tarantella of the Apulia region:

30002 Tarantella Sicilian:

Tarantella Kalabria region:

And this is for those who want to learn how to dance to tarantella:



updated: Victoria camilleryi tags: holidays

Tarantella | Belcanto.ru

ital. tarantella

fast italian dance (sizes 3/8, 6/8, 12/8), lively and passionate in character. FROM There are many legends connected with the history of the tarantella. Starting from the 15th century. within 2 For centuries, the tarantella was considered the only cure for "tarantism" - insanity, believed to be caused by the bite of a tarantula (name insect, as well as dance, is derived from the name of the southern Italian city ​​of Taranto). In this regard, in the 16th century. traveled around Italy special orchestras, to the game of which patients with tarantism danced.

Tarantella music was usually improvised; it is characterized by long deployment of a melody with large extensions and cadence additions. The tarantella was often based on any one motive or rhythmic figure (in early samples - and in bipartite meter), repeated repetition of which had a bewitching, "hypnotic" effect on listeners and dancers.

Melody of a folk tarantella (recorded by S. Storace, published in 1753)

last several hours; the musical accompaniment of the dance was performed flute, castanets, tambourine and some other percussion instruments, sometimes with a voice.

Tarantella from the collection of F.C. Seed. Spain. 1787

Over time, the tarantella became an ordinary dance (single or double), although retained her fierce character. As one of the most notable dances of Italy, the tarantella is described by many travelers of the 18th-20th centuries, among them A. L. J. de Stael. J. W. Goethe. R. M. Rilke wrote in letter dated 20 Feb. 1907: "What a dance: as if invented by satyrs and nymphs, ancient - and perked up and rediscovered, shrouded right memories; deceit, and savagery, and wine, men again with goat hooves and a maiden from the retinue of Artemis" (Rilke R. M., Briefe aus den Jahren 1906 bis 1907, Lpz., 1930, S. 187).

In some operas and ballets of the 19th century. (F. Lachner, L. and F. Ricci, E. Wolf-Ferrari, etc.) the tarantella receives a stage embodiment (the most famous ballet is J. Coralli "La Tarentule", post. in 1839 in Paris and London).

National the characteristic and temperamental rhythm of the tarantella attracted attention to it Western European (see, for example, the finale of Weber's sonata for piano, op. 70, No 45 from Songs Without Words and the finale of Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony, the topic of Ch. parts of the 1st part of the symphony "Harold in Italy" by Berlioz, "Tarantella" op. 43 Chopin, tarantella from the cycle "Venice and Naples" Lista, wok. tarantellas by G. Rossini and J. Bizet) and Russians (see, for example, "Tarantella" for fp. Glinka, 4th part of the suite for 2 fp. op. 17 Rachmaninov, 1st variation in the Pas de deux from the 2nd act of The Nutcracker and one from the themes of "Italian Capriccio" by Tchaikovsky, 1st variation from the 3rd D. "Raymonda" Glazunov) composers.

Tarantellas were created and how spectacular virtuoso pieces in the spirit of Perpetuum mobile (for example, tarantellas for violins by N. Paganini, G. Wieniawski, P. Sarasate, K. Szymanowski, S. I. Taneeva).

The genre of tarantella has been repeatedly addressed by composers 20 in. (main theme of "Celebrations" from "Nocturnes" by Debussy; ballet suite op. 130 Reger; "Serenade" for piano, bassoon, trumpet, violin and cello op.


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