People have been dancing since the first humans could walk upright. Dance is a great form of expression and different cultures have different dances. New dance styles develop all the time too and in South Africa, rubber boots led to the creation of a unique dance form with a fascinating story.
Late in the Victorian Era, it was discovered that South Africa is home to untold riches. An area called the Witwatersrand turned out to have vast gold reefs and the ensuing gold rush led to the formation of Johannesburg, the country's largest city. Even today, the City of Gold is at the center of the South African economy and gold is still the country's major export.
In order to get the gold from the ground, more and more workers were needed. They came from all over the world and many Chinese South Africans are the descendants of indentured workers brought in by the mining magnates. However, right from the start, most of the men working the mines were from the black tribes living in Southern Africa. Today they come from all parts of the country but also from neighboring countries such as Mozambique, Botswana and Zimbabwe. The mines are a melting pot of cultures and languages.
Over the years, mines were dug deeper and deeper and today many of the deepest mines in the world are located on the reef known as the Witwatersrand. Working so deep underneath the Earth's surface means that conditions are harsh. It's hot and humid and miners were soon given boots that they dubbed gumboots to keep their feet dry and prevent skin conditions.
In the early days, workers weren't allowed to talk during their shifts. Using signs was often futile too, since it's dark underground. However, the workers soon found another way to communicate. They developed a system of coded messages by slapping on their gumboots and on their chests.
Over time, the secret codes developed into dance movements. In Africa, people live and breathe for music and dance and the mine bosses learned to accept that the workers would dance while they were working. Later they even encouraged miners to take part in these dances, since it was a healthy way for them to entertain themselves between shifts when they were living far from their families.
When gumboot dancing became a legitimate art form on the mines, it didn't stop the secret messages. The mine bosses never knew that in the dances, they were often being made fun of. The dancers would do parodies of particular superiors and would use their dances to talk about the terrible conditions they were working in, the long hours underground, the low wages and life in the miners' hostels where they were being housed.
Over the years, the dance form took on a life of its own. It's now performed on stage and at tourist sites. It's even incorporated into high-brow art, such as contemporary dance and choral performances. It's become part of the South African identity too, which is quite a feat for something that had its origins with the humblest of workers.
Late in the Victorian Era, it was discovered that South Africa is home to untold riches. An area called the Witwatersrand turned out to have vast gold reefs and the ensuing gold rush led to the formation of Johannesburg, the country's largest city. Even today, the City of Gold is at the center of the South African economy and gold is still the country's major export.
In order to get the gold from the ground, more and more workers were needed. They came from all over the world and many Chinese South Africans are the descendants of indentured workers brought in by the mining magnates. However, right from the start, most of the men working the mines were from the black tribes living in Southern Africa. Today they come from all parts of the country but also from neighboring countries such as Mozambique, Botswana and Zimbabwe. The mines are a melting pot of cultures and languages.
Over the years, mines were dug deeper and deeper and today many of the deepest mines in the world are located on the reef known as the Witwatersrand. Working so deep underneath the Earth's surface means that conditions are harsh. It's hot and humid and miners were soon given boots that they dubbed gumboots to keep their feet dry and prevent skin conditions.
In the early days, workers weren't allowed to talk during their shifts. Using signs was often futile too, since it's dark underground. However, the workers soon found another way to communicate. They developed a system of coded messages by slapping on their gumboots and on their chests.
Over time, the secret codes developed into dance movements. In Africa, people live and breathe for music and dance and the mine bosses learned to accept that the workers would dance while they were working. Later they even encouraged miners to take part in these dances, since it was a healthy way for them to entertain themselves between shifts when they were living far from their families.
When gumboot dancing became a legitimate art form on the mines, it didn't stop the secret messages. The mine bosses never knew that in the dances, they were often being made fun of. The dancers would do parodies of particular superiors and would use their dances to talk about the terrible conditions they were working in, the long hours underground, the low wages and life in the miners' hostels where they were being housed.
Over the years, the dance form took on a life of its own. It's now performed on stage and at tourist sites. It's even incorporated into high-brow art, such as contemporary dance and choral performances. It's become part of the South African identity too, which is quite a feat for something that had its origins with the humblest of workers.
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