La Pizzica
La Pizzica
La Pizzica (pronounced lar pitt-si-ka) is a popular Italian folk dance originally from the Salento peninsula in Apulia and later spreading throughout the rest of Apulia and the regions of Calabria and eastern Basilicata.
La Pizzica (pronounced lar pitt-si-ka) is a popular Italian folk dance originally from the Salento peninsula in Apulia and later spreading throughout the rest of Apulia and the regions of Calabria and eastern Basilicata.
It is part of the larger family of Tarantella dances. There are many variations of the dance steps – sometimes it’s danced by couples, by a group of women, or by one person.
It is part of the larger family of Tarantella dances. There are many variations of the dance steps – sometimes it’s danced by couples, by a group of women, or by one person.
Pizzica is also known as the Dance of Spiders.
Pizzica is also known as the Dance of Spiders.
The history of the dance, like the Tarantella, dates back thousands of years and the dance is thought to have been the only cure for a tarantula bite, or, metaphorically, for someone possessed by the devil...
The history of the dance, like the Tarantella, dates back thousands of years and the dance is thought to have been the only cure for a tarantula bite, or, metaphorically, for someone possessed by the devil...
When the alarm went that someone had been bitten, usually while working in the fields, the local band would pick up their instruments (traditionally violins, mandolins, guitar, flute, accordion and large tambourine) and rush to the house of the afflicted.
When the alarm went that someone had been bitten, usually while working in the fields, the local band would pick up their instruments (traditionally violins, mandolins, guitar, flute, accordion and large tambourine) and rush to the house of the afflicted.
Once there they would begin to play, slowly at first, while the patient, usually in a high fever by this time, began the dance. As the music got faster, so too did the steps of the dancer, whose aim was to expel the poison (or malignant spirit) through sheer force of motion and perspiration. Often family and other villagers would join in in a show of solidarity. The dance would continue "prestissimo" (very quick tempo) until the main protagonist collapsed to the floor, utterly exhausted, but hopefully cured.
Once there they would begin to play, slowly at first, while the patient, usually in a high fever by this time, began the dance. As the music got faster, so too did the steps of the dancer, whose aim was to expel the poison (or malignant spirit) through sheer force of motion and perspiration. Often family and other villagers would join in in a show of solidarity. The dance would continue "prestissimo" (very quick tempo) until the main protagonist collapsed to the floor, utterly exhausted, but hopefully cured.
The above information has been sourced and amalgamated from numerous internet websites.
The above information has been sourced and amalgamated from numerous internet websites.
Gail
Gail
March 2019
March 2019