pizzica tarantata
History and occurrence of the dance.
This is an Indigenous Apulian tradition, though ritual is known through different regions of Southern Italy, with music style and instruments changing depending on village or community. It has been specifically identified or rooting out of the “heel of the boot” of Italy, where most of the occurrences happen. Within the region of Puglia, also called Apulia. Scholars have contemplated to the origins of this folk tradition. It is thought to have gone underground and transformed into what we know today as the Tarantella, with the dominance of the Roman empire and especially the conversion of the Catholic church, there are other traditions like this in the ancient ecstatic cult Greek worship of Dionysus.
It is said that the afflicted are usually bitten while working in the field. Once bitten, the "venom" of the spider deems the person unconscious or put into a type of mania. Where she must be brought into a home or open field, where ceremony can take place. She is dressed in white, to ward off more maladies, and musicians too dressed in white, begin to play. Slow and steady at first, as she moves and writhes at the center of the circle, then with faster beats and more quick movements, often imitating that of a spider, she is put into a trance, experiencing spiritual hallucination and insight. A spider like dance is performed of dancing, crawling, barking, arching and bending. Moving in what some would refer to as “supernatural” ways. The ceremony might last for days on end, with other community and family gathering around. Providing food and nourishment, prayer and presence. Finally the spell is broken, and the woman is freed from the web of the spider.
The Spider
There has been much research, from scientists to doctors, priests and world thinkers, inquiring as to the cause of the hysteria suffered by the person bitten. It occurs to mostly women, though men and other gender non conforming folks, referred to Femminiello, can also be "bitten". But there has yet to show evidence of scientific explanation, or even a true spider who Members of the community gather around the room, providing prayer, food, and money as offering. When the woman awakes from her catharsis, she finds herself surrounded by friends and family sharing their support. Named for the tarantula, there is known spider to actually cause the bite. It is known to be a mythical spider, inflicting those who are burdened from the weight of oppression, often are field workers and "peasants". Though those experiencing unrequited love, abusive relationships, or who have experienced sexual trauma or repression can be affected.
Southern Italy has a long history of oppression and dominance within the uprising of capitalism, and this dance and tradition was thought to be used as a way to process the collective trauma inflicted upon the forced labor and low wages for back breaking work. The experiences of exploitation of field laborers via land owners a result of the historical “othering” of southern Italy and oppression of culture and suffering as a result of poverty.
Current context
With the world putting focus on the practice starting in the 1950's, it has since begun to die down and turn more into a show of folk tradition of dance and music, with choreography and dance with musical accompaniment. There is a festival occurring in the Feast Time of Saint Paul, with festivities of white and red costume, and tambourine dancing. Paying homage to the tradition that has since been pushed even further underground.
Italian Americans have even gone so far as to make the Tarantella a wedding song and dance, completely removing it from context, and subverting the purpose and sacredness of the ritual. Now tarantism occurs primarily within festivals during the summer, with it being more of a show around heritage, and an act of skill of percussionist of who can sustain playing for the longest and hardest as the night drones on in musical rapture. Removing the centering of the afflicted tarantati and instead centering the musicians, most often men, and reinforcing patriarchal strong hold.
But this is changing, there are groups resurgent coming back into relationship with this as a healing tradition. Once again, holding this in the light of it being a trauma healing experience.