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.
As mining operations grew, those in charge realized that they needed more laborers. They imported indentured laborers from China but an even cheaper source to exploit was right there in the country. Young black men came to Johannesburg from their tribal villages to make money which could support their families and pay for the hut taxes that the government implemented. Even today, most miners in South Africa are black men that come from the country and its neighbors.
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.
Especially in the early days of the mines, communication among the miners was difficult. Talking wasn't allowed and because of the darkness, using sing language wasn't an option. The workers soon realized that they could communicate in secret by stamping their feet, slapping on the boots and beating on their chests in something akin to Morse code.
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.
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.
While gumboot dancing still exists on the mines, today it's a legitimate art form more often seen on stage. It's popular with tourists visiting South Africa. There are even professional troupes that tour the world to showcase the dance that started with a pair of boots.
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.
As mining operations grew, those in charge realized that they needed more laborers. They imported indentured laborers from China but an even cheaper source to exploit was right there in the country. Young black men came to Johannesburg from their tribal villages to make money which could support their families and pay for the hut taxes that the government implemented. Even today, most miners in South Africa are black men that come from the country and its neighbors.
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.
Especially in the early days of the mines, communication among the miners was difficult. Talking wasn't allowed and because of the darkness, using sing language wasn't an option. The workers soon realized that they could communicate in secret by stamping their feet, slapping on the boots and beating on their chests in something akin to Morse code.
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.
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.
While gumboot dancing still exists on the mines, today it's a legitimate art form more often seen on stage. It's popular with tourists visiting South Africa. There are even professional troupes that tour the world to showcase the dance that started with a pair of boots.
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