The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

JUMP-IN OR JUMPING DANCE

THIS DANCE IS PERIODICALLY PERFORMED AND ITS MUSIC IS CHARACTER-
IZED BY A RHYTHMIC PATTERN OF FIVE EVEN DRUM BEATS WITH A
STRONG ACCENT ON THE FIFTH. IT IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS A SENSUAL
DANCE. THE FIRST DANCER LEAPS INTO THE CIRCLE IN AN ANGULAR
POSE, HIS LEGS ARE WIDE APART, AND HIS ARMS AKIMBO OR TO HIS
SIDE (BOTH HANDS RESTING ON THE SIDES OF THE WAIST). EACH BEAT
OF THE DRUM SENDS THE MALE DANCER SPINNING AND LEAPING ABOUT
THE CIRCLE IN A WIDE ARC OF RAPID AND COMPLEX LEAPS, AT THE END
OF WHICH THE DRUM JERKS HIM BACKWARD INTO ANOTHER ANGULAR
POSTURE. HE IS THEN SIGNALLED OUT OF THE RING AND HIS FINAL
LEAP CARRIES HIM IN FRONT OF A FEMALE WHOM HE VIOLENTLY GESTURES
TO DANCE. HE DOES THIS BY THRUSTING THE PELVIC REGION FORWARD
ON THE FIFTH BEAT OF THE DRUM. THE FEMALE DANCER REPLACES THE
MALE DANCER BY ENTERING THE RING AND WITH WHIRLING SKIRTS SHE
DANCES TO THE BEAT OF THE DRUMS. WHEN SHE IS SIGNALLED OUT OF
THE RING SHE MOVES HER HIPS FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND THE PELVIC
REGION IS THRUST FORWARD.

Submitter comment: THE JUMP-IN DANCE IS DESCRIBED AS LASCIVIOUS AND SENSUAL
BECAUSE THE DANCERS THRUST THE PELVIC REGION FORWARD WHEN
DANCING BEFORE A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE SEX.

Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU

Date learned: 00001970S