The massive popularity of limbo emerges directly from this audience participation. In touristic presentations, professional limbo dancers often invite spectators to participate after their presentation. Limbo is still practiced and presented by numerous dance troupes in the context of the Prime Minister's Best Village Competition and during the Carnival season in Trinidad and Tobago. It is also widely heard in Jamaican mento recorded in the 1950s, in songs such as "Limbo" by Lord Tickler and Calypsonians or "Limbo" by Denzil Laing & the Wrigglers, as well as many other songs not directly related to the limbo dance theme. Indeed, in Jamaica, the trendy limbo music of the 1950s was often based on a clave rhythm. Limbo is unofficially considered the national dance of Trinidad and Tobago, which refers to itself as the land of limbo, steelpan (steel drums), and calypsoĪs Limbo spread out of Trinidad and Tobago to the wider world and the big screen, in several other Caribbean islands, such as Barbados and Jamaica, limbo became a major part of the tourism package. One major example is the song "Limbo Rock" (recorded by Chubby Checker), which became a number 2 charted hit on the Billboard Top 100, from which emerged the popular quote/chant that is associated with limbo which Checker also helped to popularize: "How low can you go?" Limbo was brought into the mainstream by Trinidadian Calypsonian Brigo (Samuel Abrahams) with his popular Soca song "Limbo Break" As Limbo gained popularity as a tourist activity and a form of entertainment, pop music began using Caribbean rhythms to respond to the emerging craze in the United States. Limbo dancers generally move and respond to a number of specific Afro-Caribbean drum patterns. Julia Edwards added a number of features that are now considered standard, such as human 'bars' formed by the limbs of other dancers and the use of fire in the performance of limbo. In its adaptation to the world of entertainment, troupes began reversing the traditional order. Traditionally, the limbo dance began at the lowest possible bar height and the bar was gradually raised, signifying an emergence from death into life. The contest ends when only one person can successfully "limbo" under the bar without penalty. After everyone has completed their turns, the bar is lowered slightly and the contest continues. No part of their bodies is allowed to touch the bar and no part other than their feet may touch the ground. When passing under the bar, players must bend backwards. Whoever knocks the bar off or falls is eliminated from the contest. All contestants must attempt to go under the bar with their backs facing toward the floor. The film Julia and Joyce (2010) by Trinidadian/American dance researcher/choreographer Sonja Dumas features the evolution of the Limbo and the contribution of Julia Edwards to the explosion of its popularity.Ī horizontal bar, known as the limbo bar, is placed atop two vertical bars. The dance originated as an event that took place at wakes in Trinidad and Tobago, and was popularized by dance pioneer Julia Edwards (known as the First Lady of Limbo) and her company which appeared in several films, in particular Fire Down Below (1957), and toured widely in the Caribbean, Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Africa in the 1960s and later. "Limbo is a traditional popular dance contest that was known to be originated on the island of Trinidad. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and special thanks to the memory of Trinidadian Julia Edwards, who was an influential pioneer of the limbo dance. The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and entertainment purposes. This post was previously published in 2012 with the title "Focus On Julia Edwards and The Traditional Limbo Dance" This pancocojams post presents information about the limbo dance and showcases two videos of limbo songs and five videos of limbo performances.
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