Country: Southern Italy including Sardinia and Sicily
How the Dance Was Named:
Named after the city of Taranto
Legend tells that the Tarantella with its wild turns was done to relieve the maddening pain of the tarantula’s sting.
History: Early 1600's
Influenced by Spanish dance
Early 1800's adopted into classical ballet
Dancers accompany themselves with tambourines and castanets
Steps may be performed in many sequences
Some steps dancer moves forward and back while hoping on one foot
Some steps feature heel-toe movements
Steps are linked by runs, skips movements with a partner
Formation: Partners
Rader, Patricia W. "Tarantella." World Book Student. World Book, 2014. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.