“Gumboots”: A Means of Communication

Did your child come home dancing on Tuesday? Thanks to the CGS Parent’s Association, we were able to welcome “Just Gumboots” into our gym for a fun afternoon of dance.

“Stomp, holler, sing and dance! Gumboots is a South African art that mixes percussion and movement.” @justgumboots

You may know the term,”Gumboots” as what we also call “Wellies” or Wellington boots, but Gumboot dancing was born in the gold mines of South Africa. As we reflect on Black History Month, we learned that the miners created a means of communication, by slapping their gumboots and clapping their hands, creating their own unique form of Morse Code.

The South African art form has a pretty wide appeal. The dancers use traditional moves and sounds, and also add contemporary movement, music and song. Our CGS kids and our teachers learned that it’s quite a workout! The afternoon was a fun release as we celebrating using our body as an instrument, while learning about “the richness and complexities of South African culture.”