The pinch of swords

The pinch is a very ancient Salento dance and there are many variants of that dance, belonging to the group of tarantella, dances that characterize the countries of southern Italy. The pinch of swords is a pinch that is offered each year during the celebrations of St. Rocco from the sunset of August 15 at the dawn of August 16, in the place opposite the San Rocco Shrine at Torrepaduli. The San Rocco party traditionally coincided with one of the most important fairs in the province, and it was always a pilgrimage to the devotees of San Rocco. It derives from peasant ducks that were defending honor or pride among rival families or at fairs and markets as if they were playing or firing while waiting for the fair to begin. Although we can not say with certainty, this dance seems to have been introduced by gypsies running the main livestock markets.

The dance is accompanied by the inevitable Salentini tambourines and the harmonica in the mouth. The dancers challenge in a duel that was once provided with the use of knives, which are now unused. The main purpose of the dance is to hit the opponent, and each gesture simulates the typical movements of the fight with knives following the rules of the fight: never turn over to the other, always be vigilant and keep distances. This dance involves the presence of two dancers that are gradually replaced by those present in the group.