Tightrope walking

Tightrope walking[1] (English) (Koorddans[2] in Dutch and in Afrikaans) is the well-known art of walking along a taught, thin wire or rope (i.e. a tight rope). An awe inspiring acrobatic skill, it has a long tradition in many countries and is commonly associated with the circus, music hall and vaudeville.

It is also a venerable form of extreme adventurism, with walkers attempting epic walks between high buildings, across the Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, up the Eiffel Tower, etc.

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". Also referred to by its Latin name as funambulism[3].

Related to it are the activities referred to as slackrope walking, or slacklining[4].

See also Slack Rope

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[5]

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

Go to ESAT 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