How to Dance the Tarantella

The tarantella is a traditional Italian folk dance that was believed to cure the bite of the tarantula spider. The name of the dance comes from Taranto, Italy, and the specific dance steps vary by Italian region. There are hundreds of different versions of the tarantella, and these variations fall into 2 broads categories: versions of the dance that use partners and versions that are performed by individuals. Either of these versions can be danced by small groups.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Dancing the Tarantella with a Partner

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This version of the tarantella requires everyone to tap on a small tambourine. If you don’t have enough tambourines for everyone, 1 tambourine for each pair of dancers can work. Dancers will just need to pass the tambourine back and forth for certain moves.^{[1]XResearch source}
2
Do a cross-step or shake the tambourine. Both partners begin facing in the same direction, next to one another. If you are dancing the woman's part, for this 8-count, shake your tambourine in a clockwise circle in time to the music. If you are dancing the “man's part,” cross your right foot over your left for a count of 1-2, then your left foot over your right for 3-4. Step out with your right foot on 5-6. Step out with your left foot on 7-8.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Anybody can play the role of woman or man. These terms simply designate different elements of the steps that are traditionally performed by one gender or another.
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3
Perform the “tarantella step.” Both partners do this next step identically. Place your hands on your hips. Kick your right foot low to the ground on 1. Place the ball of your right foot on the ground in front of your left foot on 2. Hop back onto your left foot on 3. Step your right foot back into its starting position on 4. Repeat this move starting with your left foot on 5-6-7-8. Repeat this sequence for 3 more 8-counts.^{[3]XResearch source}
- This is the tarantella step. You’ll use it again several times in this dance.
- All of this is done with a bit of a hopping motion.
- You can do this step so that you travel forward or backward, clockwise or counterclockwise. Or you can perform the tarantella step in place.
- For this sequence, travel backwards.
Turn to face your partner. If you are the woman, tap your tambourine to your left shoulder, then left hip, then right hip on 1-2-3. Repeat for 4-5-6, and then tap your tambourine with your hand twice on 7-8. Meanwhile, the man stands with his hands on his hips, bouncing slightly in time to the music.^{[4]XResearch source}
5
Perform a “do-si-do.” Now both partners perform 2 tarantella steps forward so that you pass one another. Then perform 2 tarantella steps backwards to return to your starting position. This back-and-forth is called a do-si-do.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Repeat the tambourine triangle and do-si-do sequence once more.
If you are the man, kneel down on your right knee. Holding the tambourine in your left hand, tap it against your side to the beat for 1-2-3-4-5-6-7. On 8, tap it twice. Meanwhile, if you are the woman, perform 2 tarantella steps in place.^{[6]XResearch source}
For the next 16 counts, the man stays down on one knee while tapping the tambourine above his head. Meanwhile, the woman performs 4 tarantella steps, moving in a clockwise circle.^{[7]XResearch source}
2 sets of couples come together in a circle and extend their right arms toward the center so they are touching. This group performs 4 tarantella steps in unison, rotating all together in a clockwise circle. On the last tarantella step, everyone taps their tambourine (which is held in everyone’s left hand).^{[8]XResearch source}
9
Reverse the spin of the circle. All 4 dancers switch their tambourines to the right hand and turn so that their left arms are now extended into the center. Now the dancers perform 4 tarantella steps moving in unison and rotating the circle counterclockwise. On the last tarantella step of this sequence, everyone taps their tambourine.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Repeat the entire dance from the top for the duration of the song.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Performing the Tarantella as an Individual

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1
Gather percussion instruments. The tarantella is a rhythmic dance and it uses simple percussion instruments held by the dancers. This can be done with a small tambourine or any kind of small handheld shaker.^{[10]XResearch source}
- You may even want to make your own percussion instrument!
The first move in the tarantella is to travel in a counterclockwise circle. Skip in time to the beat for 16 counts (2 x 8 counts). Tap your percussion instrument in time to the beat.^{[11]XResearch source}
Now change directions. Skip in a clockwise circle for 16 counts (2 x 8 counts) of the music. Once again, tap your percussion instrument in time to the beat.^{[12]XResearch source}
Place the bottom of your right heel on the ground in front of you, keeping your left foot on the ground. Do this for a count of 1-2. Then place the ball of your right foot behind you for a count of 3-4.^{[13]XResearch source}
5
Rotate counterclockwise for 4 counts. Using your right foot to push off, rotate in a counterclockwise circle, keeping your left foot planted on the ground. Do this for a count of 5-6-7-8, until you return to your starting position.^{[14]XResearch source}
- Tap your instrument as you rotate.
6
Repeat this with on your left side. Place your left heel on the ground in front of you for a count of 1-2. Place the ball of your left foot behind you for a count of 3-5. Pushing off with your left foot, rotate in a clockwise circle for a count of 5-6-7-8. You should return to your starting position.^{[15]XResearch source}
- Remember to tap on your percussion instrument as you turn.
7
Perform 4 knee-drivers on your right side. Lift your instrument into the air while stepping back with your right foot. Bring your instrument down to tap against your right thigh as you raise your right knee out in front of you. Bring your foot back down to the ground behind you, and repeat the motion 3 more times.^{[16]XResearch source}
- The counts go like this: step back 1, knee drive 2, step back 3, knee drive 4, step back 5, knee drive 6, step back 7, knee drive 8.
- This is a fairly rapid move.
Step back with your left foot while raising your instrument above your head. Drive your knee up while tapping the top of your thigh with your instrument. Repeat this move 3 more times. Each step corresponds to 1 count. This move will take a full 8 count to complete.^{[17]XResearch source}
Return to your right foot and perform 4 knee drivers. Switch to your left and perform another 4. Remember to tap your instrument on your thigh each time.^{[18]XResearch source}
Begin again by skipping in a counterclockwise circle for 16 counts. Move through the rest of the tarantella dance steps. Continue to repeat parts 1, 2, and 3 until the song ends.^{[19]XResearch source}

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Dancing the Tarantella as a Group

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1
Perform the tarantella in straight lines. An individual version of the tarantella can be made into a group dance by forming a series of straight lines. Everyone does the same steps, facing in the same direction, as if the tarantella were a kind of line dance.^{[20]XResearch source}
- Depending on the number of dancers you have, try standing in 3 rows of 5.
After performing the all of the moves in the sequence, dancers can come together in small groups of 4 or 5. Each small group performs 4 tarantella steps in unison, rotating in a clockwise circle, followed by 4 more tarantellas rotating counterclockwise. After these 8 tarantella steps, individuals return to their lines and start again from the top of the dance. ^{[21]XResearch source}
3
Divide male and female roles. A fun spin on the group version of the tarantella is to assign certain steps to male dancers, and certain steps to female dancers. This provides some variety to the individual version of the dance.^{[22]XResearch source}
- For instance, you might decide that every time the male dancers perform a tarantella step, the female dances shake their tambourines in clockwise circles in time to the beat.
- You might decide that males also rotate their tarantella steps clockwise, while female also rotate counterclockwise.
4
Choreograph a group of partner dancers. Some variations on the tarantella move between being a partner dance and group dance. The tarantella is an incredibly dynamic dance. Different elements of the various versions can be easily combined.^{[23]XResearch source}
- For example, the first 8-12 measures of music may involve partner moves, the following 8-12 measures may involve individual moves performed in a line, and the dance might end with small groups dancing in circles.