The mesmerizing Tarantella dance originated in Salento, Italy, in the 11th century and became a dance craze from the 15th through the 17th centuries. During summer harvests, it was common for workers to be bitten by tarantulas and wolf spiders while working in fields and olive groves. The Tarantella was soon the favored cure for tarantism caused by spider bites. It was believed that the whirling moves, contortions, and excessive perspiration would rid the body of the spider venom. The Magico-religious dance is now performed at Italian American weddings and folklore festivals in Italy and America.
Comments