tarantë

Tarantë is the Albanian term for tarantella, a family of traditional Italian folk dances and their accompanying musical forms. The tarantella originated in Southern Italy and became associated with tarantism, a historical belief that a bite from the tarantula spider caused a condition that could be cured by frenzied dancing. Through migration and cultural exchange, the dance spread beyond its origin and influenced folk music in various regions.

Tarantë describes dances with lively, driving rhythms and fast footwork, often performed in 6/8 time. Dancers typically move in couples or groups, forming circles or lines, with gestures such as spins, hops, stomps, and hand claps. The accompanying music emphasizes bright melodies and percussion, commonly featuring tambourines, accordions, mandolins, guitars, and rhythmic stamping.

There are regional variations across Italy, with distinct steps, tempos, and ornamental figures associated with areas such as Naples, Sicily, Apulia, and Calabria. In traditional settings, tarantë is tied to festive occasions like weddings and fairs, though it also appears in modern performances, concerts, and cultural demonstrations to showcase folk heritage.

In contemporary Albanian usage, tarantë may appear in ethnomusicological writing and popular media as a reference to this Italian dance, illustrating historical cross-cultural influences in the Mediterranean and Adriatic regions. See also Tarantella, Tarantism, Folk dance.