Tightrope walking

Tightrope walking[1] (English) and koorddans[2] (Dutch and Afrikaans) is a practice usually found as circus act or as a daredevil stunt, and refers to the art of walking (dancing or otherwise performing) along a taught thin wire or rope. It is an old tradition in many countries and is also referred to by its Latin name as funambulism[3].

Related to it are the activities referred to as slack rope walking, or slacklining.

The Dutch and Afrikaans term is koorddans and literally translated means "rope dancing", and a koorddanser is thus a tightrope walker, -performer or -dancer, i.e. a "funambulist".

Sources

Bosman, D; Van der Merwe, I.W. and Hiemstra, L.W. 1964. Tweetalige Woordeboek Afrikaans-Engels. J.L. van Schaik: p.381.

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koorddansen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tightrope_walking

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/funambulism

Interglot Translation Dictionary[4]

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

Return to

Return to The South African Context/General Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to South African Theatre/Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to South African Film /Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to South African Media/Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page