Etruscan Dance Culture as Represented in Tomb Paintings from the UNESCO Heritage Site in Tarquinia (Italy)

Abstract

Karen Kain, recipient of the Companion of the Order of Canada and artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada, wrote an autobiography entitled Movement Never Lies referring to a truism about professional dance. The UNESCO heritage site of Tarquinia (Italy) featuring Etruscan tomb dance imagery has never been studied through Classical scholarship from the perspective of a professional dancer nor from the perspective of analysis of depiction of movement. The author of this presentation, a former dancer with the National Ballet of Canada (1986-1992) who is a Classics Major, has endeavoured to prove that examination of movement depiction can be used as evidence to provide insight into Etruscan culture. Methodology for the study is based on the premise that Etruscan dance representations of humans Ca. 2500 years ago and the techniques of the dancer of today reflect actions by the same species; therefore, a comparative is possible for the essence of the movement communicated.
 Results of the study indicate that representation of the Etruscan dance language is realistic and stable, is organically derived, is immensely practical, and has unique features within the Mediterranean cultural milieu. This preliminary study highlights the possibility of using ancient Classical cultures as models and terms of comparison for better understanding aspects of modern societies. It is salient that in contemporary culture, woman and children are dying to dance (from eating disorders), while Etruscans seemed to be dancing to live or to become ambassadors for an afterlife indicated by the Etruscan models.