> Next question, do the Italians spontaneously dance, like the Greeks to
> express the range of emotions (full of life--full of sorrow)?
--------------------------------------
Let us talk about Sardinia.
First of all, have you ever liisten to sardinian "tenores"?
http://www.felmay.it/ammenten.html
http://mailbox.univie.ac.at/Emil.Lubej/Articles/Tenores/Tenores.html
It's well worth listening!
Do you know the songs of Maria Carta?
http://www.kuntzertu.com/kuntzertu/maria.html
This ***extraordinary*** voice is litlle-known outside Sardinia.
Dancing is one of the two interesting aspects of Sardinia (the other is the sea).
The antiquity of dancing is proved by considerable elements,
i.e. the "launeddas", the original instruments with which dances are
still accompanied (VIII - VII b.C.).
What is difficult to establish is if these dances, in their original forms,
have been guided, earlier, by the instrument (launeddas) or by the human
voice. Moreover it is sure that the accompaniment of voices (tenores)
arrived only later.
The sardinian dances are not indeed only occasion of purely amusement,
but they are direct expression of *instincts* and *emotions*.
The main characteristic of the sardinian dance is the *composure* [not very
italian] that every single dancer has to put on, and the *serious* attitude.
It is no easy to describe the basic movement of the body in the sardinian
dances. It is a particular rhythmical support in which the trunk participates
and it is called "drinnire".
Summing up. Yes, sardinan dances have something to do with Zorba the Greek.
Buth the rhythm is *much* faster.
"Su Passu Torra[t]u" [the returned step], dance typical of the city of Nuoro,
and Orgosolo. It is composed by forwards and backwards steps,
precisely "returned". Main characteristic is the composure and seriousness
of this dance.
"Su Dillu"
The name is probably onomatopoeic owed to the words with which
the dance was accompanied: "dilliri, dilliri, dilliriana". It is based on
a single jumped movement that consists in two jumps on the right leg
and two on the left.
"Sa Danza"
Two are the principal movements: the basic step composed by two jumps
on the right leg rejoining with a supported bow on the left leg and the lateral
gallop on the left on the right.
"Su Ballu Anticu"
It was danced in squares during village parties, involving people of every
age and social class.
"Su Ballu Tundu"
It is a cheerful dance which permits a kind of feet movements freedom,
always respecting the basic rules, moreover because this dance is carried
out by couples and dancers express a personal level using their personality
and inspiration. It is characterized by two basic movements: "sa seria"(introductory
part) and "su sartiu" a more lively and vibrating part.
"Su durdurinu", in Oliena
"Su ballu a cantiguittiri", ?
"Su passu torratu bitti", ?
"Su ballu de is muccadoris", in Elmas
"S' arroxiada Samugheo", ?
"Su ballu sciampittau", in Elmas.
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