Dance Workshop: Introduction to Tarantism and Pizzica

Details

Parallel to the performance of “Quiso Negro”, Esther Gutin’s company is offering a dance workshop to get started in the disciplines of Tarantismo and Pizzica. It will be open to the general public and no prior dance experience is required, although it is recommended to have enough mobility to perform small jumps. The workshop will be held in the gym of the Sta. Teresa lecture building on the Obelisco Campus of the ULPGC. The activity is part of the project “Bailar los campus”, promoted by the University in collaboration with the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Peso Producciones and Teatro Guiniguada, whose aim is to break into university life in order to propose new ways of expressing movement in everyday life. Recommended age: 15+ years Duration: 90 minutes Capacity: 20 places Time: 17:00 Teacher: Esther Gutin Workshop description Tarantismo is an ancient healing ritual from southern Italy, based on the belief that dancing to the point of exhaustion made it possible to expel the symbolic venom of a tarantula bite, acting as a cathartic therapy for psychological or social distress. Pizzica is the music and dance that accompanied this ritual. It is characterized by small combinations of jumps, intense footwork and arm movements. Today it has evolved into a social dance and a symbol of the cultural identity of Salento, with variants such as the particularly eye‑catching courting pizzica, or combat pizzica. It is danced mainly at festivals and popular celebrations. In this workshop, Ester Guntín will offer a theoretical introduction to tarantismo and pizzica. Afterwards, Héctor Puigdomènech and Ester Guntín will lead a collective pizzica practice to discover and experience this traditional dance from Salento. Esther Gutin Esther Guntín studied Humanities and Choreography. Her work explores forgotten phenomena on the margins of dominant narratives, using movement, sound, space and dramaturgy beyond choreography. “Quiso negro” (Institut del Teatre Dance Award 2023; MAX Award 2025) premiered at the Grec Festival 2024.