The 'viddaneddha' is the Reggio Calabria version of the mysterious tarantella.
It originates in ancient Greece and involves different rituals and symbolic performances.
In the past the tarantella offered the possibilty for a man and a women to court in a very rigid society.
The man gave prominence to his strength with harmonious and vigorous gestures while the woman assumed an attitude by making long trails of her flapping dress.
The woman would also take up the posture of the 'amphora' by placing her hands on her hips to emphasise her curves and demonstrate her fertility.
The tarantella is the real Reggio dance and used to be the conclusion of every feast especially in provincial areas.
The dancers would form a ring, the so called 'rota' and wait for their turn. This particular set up allows the dance 'maestro' to lead the dance by looking at all the participants and decide the couple's formation accordding to particular rules and canons.
We believe the tarantella has a deeper signifance than this however, especially in the Salento area of Puglia.
It is here the dance is associated with the local spider, women's rights (or lack of them), trance like states and writhing on the floor under chairs or grappling walls. |
