Gumboot Dancing at the Pacific Dance Festival

A large part of our class and some other students took part in the Pacific Dance Festival this week. We did a traditional African Gumboot Dance. This dance was done in the Gold Mines by slaves, originally, as a secret way of communicating. It is made up of a series of claps, stamps and whistles which need very good co-ordination and some fast, energetic moves. We learnt the dance in just one week, and every one said that it was great!

Here is what BT wrote:

As we sit anxiously on the floor waiting to go on stage, Kim and Raylene (some of our Mums) are helping to tie on bandannas for the dancers. Mrs Taljaard has asked me to blog about the dances as we wait. I am sitting on the floor in the chapel, writing this.

Monday, 3 August

We are very nervous, especially as we have only been practicing for one week. Everyone is ready. Then we get called to Room 24. We think that is very funny, as we ARE in Room 24 at school. We have to wait for ages, and they tell us to keep our bells quiet, but it is hard as they are attached to our boots. Soon we have to go on stage. We walk quietly in the dark on to the stage. LB blows the whistle 3 times. We stamp back, and then we're off! 1-2-3-4 5-6-7-8, and clap and stamp and clap and clap. We have to think very hard to remember all the moves, but we do it. It feels great when everyone claps and says Well done!


Tuesday, 4 August

As we sit on the floor waiting, we are not as nervous as last night. But DL is not here yet and she has been away on holiday. But wait, she has arrived this very moment. We are so relieved. Now CF arrives. She is feeling really sick, and has a sore throat. What are we going to do? She is our Caller, and has to shout 'Hamba' in her loudest voice to let us know when to start. She decides she is going to try her best. It's almost time to go on, and now we've just remembered we don't have our bells on our boots yet. Mrs Taljaard rushes to get all six of them fixed. Now LB has lost her whistle. Oh dear - it's time to go... Wish us luck!