Sicilian Tarantella – Dance

“Tarantella” is connected to the tarantula. (The words derive from the town of Taranto, Italy.) In the 15th to 17th centuries, it was thought that this dance would cure tarantism, which is a disease or type of hysteria which seemed to occur as a result of the tarantula’s bite. (source)

Traditionally, the dancers (sometimes just the women, sometimes everyone) hold tambourines. Students could make their own tambourines. (Dance available for download below.)