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.
The story begins in the latter part of the nineteenth century, with the discovery of gold in an area that became known as the Witwatersrand. People came from all over in a feverish gold rush. A large mining camp developed into a bustling town that by the turn of the century was a city. Today Johannesburg is one of the largest cities on the African continent and much of South Africa's economy is still built upon its mineral wealth, especially its gold.
When mining operations started, they grew so fast that more young men were needed to do the hard work. The mining companies brought in indentured labor from countries such as China but they soon realized that they could get labor at even lower prices right there at home. Hut taxes were introduced to tribal villages and to pay for these, the young men from the villages had to go work in the mines. The gold mines still employ vast numbers of men from South Africa as well as from neighboring countries such as Lesotho, Botswana and Mozambique.
The endless thirst for gold meant that the mines became ever deeper. Many South African gold mines are now around a mile deep and most of the world's deepest mines are located in the Johannesburg area. It's hard working so far below the surface. The heat and humidity are oppressive and it's quite common to stand with your feet ankle deep in water. This led to health problems and boots made of rubber were given to the workers so that they could keep their feet dry. The workers called these gumboots.
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.
Tapping out the codes was soon accompanied by intricate dance-like movements. These became more rhythmic too. The bosses on the mines came to appreciate these dances and because they thought that gumboot dancing was a good way to keep the men entertained when they were living far from their homes, they even encouraged this new form of expression.
What the mine bosses never knew was that the secret codes were still there in the dance moves. The miners couldn't be too outspoken about their working conditions because they would lose their jobs. However, they expressed their frustration in their dances, conveying hidden messages about the abuse, the dangers, the very low wages and the long working hours. They would even make fun of their superiors through their dancing.
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.
The story begins in the latter part of the nineteenth century, with the discovery of gold in an area that became known as the Witwatersrand. People came from all over in a feverish gold rush. A large mining camp developed into a bustling town that by the turn of the century was a city. Today Johannesburg is one of the largest cities on the African continent and much of South Africa's economy is still built upon its mineral wealth, especially its gold.
When mining operations started, they grew so fast that more young men were needed to do the hard work. The mining companies brought in indentured labor from countries such as China but they soon realized that they could get labor at even lower prices right there at home. Hut taxes were introduced to tribal villages and to pay for these, the young men from the villages had to go work in the mines. The gold mines still employ vast numbers of men from South Africa as well as from neighboring countries such as Lesotho, Botswana and Mozambique.
The endless thirst for gold meant that the mines became ever deeper. Many South African gold mines are now around a mile deep and most of the world's deepest mines are located in the Johannesburg area. It's hard working so far below the surface. The heat and humidity are oppressive and it's quite common to stand with your feet ankle deep in water. This led to health problems and boots made of rubber were given to the workers so that they could keep their feet dry. The workers called these gumboots.
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.
Tapping out the codes was soon accompanied by intricate dance-like movements. These became more rhythmic too. The bosses on the mines came to appreciate these dances and because they thought that gumboot dancing was a good way to keep the men entertained when they were living far from their homes, they even encouraged this new form of expression.
What the mine bosses never knew was that the secret codes were still there in the dance moves. The miners couldn't be too outspoken about their working conditions because they would lose their jobs. However, they expressed their frustration in their dances, conveying hidden messages about the abuse, the dangers, the very low wages and the long working hours. They would even make fun of their superiors through their dancing.
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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