The History Behind the Folk Dance, Pata-Pata
The Pata Pata is a rhythmic folk dance that originated in South Africa but was later introduced to, and found success in, the United States. It is a simple dance that is popular with young children and as an exercise for elderly people.
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Definition
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Pata Pata can be performed either standing up or sitting down. Normally, however, it is performed while seated. Its song is written in the Xhosa language of southeast South Africa and can be loosely translated as "touch touch."
The Song
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The song "Pata Pata" was written in 1957 by singer/songwriter Miriam Makeba from South Africa while she lived in Johannesburg. In 1967, it was recorded and released in the United States for her studio album of the same name. "Pata Pata," also known as "The Click Song," was fairly successful in the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 12 on the chart. Since then, the song has been covered by many artists.
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1970s and 1980s
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During the 1970s and 1980s, the song's catchy beat and lyrics combined with the simple dance led to the Pata Pata's popularity in nightclubs across the world. Makeba responded to the success by calling the "Pata Pata" the only dance song she ever wrote. The dance steps to go with the song were introduced in Johannesburg and designed to match the lyrics as a celebratory song and dance.
The Dance
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The dance follows some simple steps. It is split into two eight counts for which the dancer pats the ground to his side. These are then split into two smaller four counts. For the first four counts, the dancer uses his right hand to pat the ground to his right side then his right thigh before repeating the moves with his left hand. For the second set of four counts, he makes a V shape with his arms before bringing his hands together with a clap. For the third set of four counts, he raises his arms up and across his body before patting the ground then repeating to the opposite side. For the final four counts, he punches his arms out in front of himself before patting the ground.
Exercise
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The Pata Pata dance is a relatively low-impact aerobic exercise that can be used to improve general fitness. As a result of the dance's low-impact nature and the fact that it can be performed seated, the Pata Pata dance is a popular exercise among elderly people and people who are less mobile than normal.
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References
- Photo Credit Dance wih Me image by Andrew Brown from Fotolia.com
