Rope-dancing is the general art and act of performing on or with a rope.
There are a variety of forms and techniques which have been used throughout history. These include:
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Chinese jump rope – in which a circular rope is used to make patterns in a technique which resembles hopscotch and the cat's cradle
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Rope-sliding – in which the performer slides down a tight rope or cable somewhat like a modern zip line
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Skipping rope – in which the performer repeatedly jumps over a swinging rope
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Slackwire – in which the rope or wire is slack and so a swinging technique is needed
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Tightrope walking – in which the rope or wire is tight and a balancing technique is used
History
Rope-dancers were famous among ancient Greeks and Romans. The Greeks called a rope-dancer/rope-walker as
schoenobates (σχοινοβάτης) and
kalobates (καλοβάτης) and the Romans,
funambulus. In
Herculaneum there are a series of paintings representing rope-dancing.
Germanicus and the emperor
Galba even attempted to exhibit elephants walking on the rope.
[ Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898), Funambulus][ A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875, Funambulus]
In 165 BC, the first production of Terence's play Hecyra failed due to the rival attraction of rope-dancing, as recounted by the prologue.
See also
