Most folks in the United States recognize a song by Chubby Checker called the Limbo Rock and you can play that song as a Youtube video. If you’d like to learn more about the early days of this dance, a record company called Putumayo has created a cd of original recordings from the early days of calypso music. There are some wonderful traditional and popular limbo songs you can explore. What music can you play? You can find any great music with an island beat to accompany the limbo. However, when playing at a party or with children, feel free to create the rules that work best to suit the players abilities and that keep the dance a fun activity for all.

They may not touch the pole or touch the ground. Dancers must lean back to go underneath the pole. Since the limbo pole was originally a broom, you can use an extra broom pole, a bamboo stick or any other long pole that is available. If you’d like to try the limbo, the dance is easy and fun and can be used in classrooms, summer camps, backyards, on the beach or in any party setting. That happier, more joyous limbo celebration became the dance that has made it’s way all around the globe. However, sometime after the 1950’s and 1960’s, calypso music became very popular and the limbo became better known as a dance done with colorful clothing and upbeat, happy music. Originally the limbo was done as a solemn and slow dance or ritual, sometimes as part of wakes or funerals. In order to get over to see each another, the slaves needed to cross under very low spaces. The slaves were held separately – with men and women in different areas of the ship.

The limbo was brought to Caribbean islands with slaves from Africa. Sadly, the history of the limbo is not a pleasant one. Music is playing and everyone forms a line that circles around to dip under the stick and find out… “how low can you go?”.

If you’ve seen movies about Trinidad or Tobago or the other beautiful islands in the Caribbean you’ve probably watched a crowd of people trying to bend under the limbo pole. Have you ever enjoyed the limbo with your kids or your classroom? It’s great fun and can be adapted to almost any age, grade or ability level.

Free download limbo line