The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FIRE DANCE

THE FIRE DANCE WAS OFTEN HELD OUTDOORS, USUALLY LATE AT NIGHT
IN THE MOONLIGHT AND IT WAS PERFORMED BY ADULTS. A FIRE WAS
LIGHTED IN THE MIDST OF THE PARTICIPANTS GATHERED TOGETHER IN A
RING FORMATION. THEY WOULD SING, CLAP THEIR HANDS, AND BEAT
DRUMS AS THE INDIVIDUAL DANCERS PERFORMED IN THE CENTER OF THE
RING. THE DANCERS WOULD EXECUTE AS MANY EXTRAVAGANT CAPERS IN,
OVER, AROUND AND ABOUT THE FIRE AS THEY COULD WITHOUT BURNING
THEMSELVES.

Submitter comment: TODAY THE FIRE DANCE IS EXTINCT AS A COMMUNITY ACTIVITY, BUT
A WATERED DOWN VERSION OF IT MAY BE FOUND IN NIGHTCLUB ACTS IN
NASSAU AND FREEPORT.

Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU

Date learned: 00001970S