Limbo (dance)

Limbo is a rhythmic game and dance originating from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

It is considered the unofficial national game of the country. This status places it alongside other cultural symbols like steelpan and calypso. People use the dance to celebrate during the Carnival season and at various social festivals. In modern tourism, it often serves as an "icebreaker" to help guests at tropical resorts interact. The dance is deeply tied to Afro-Caribbean traditions and specific musical rhythms.

Performing the game requires significant physical control and balance. A horizontal limbo bar is supported by two vertical poles.

To begin, a player approaches the bar and prepares to move under it. They must lean their body backward with their backs facing the floor. The player must keep their knees extended backward in a position called feet akimbo. During the movement, no part of the body is permitted to touch the bar. Additionally, the player cannot touch the ground with anything except their feet. They must also avoid turning their head or neck to the side. If a person falls or knocks the bar away, they are eliminated from the contest.

Limbo contests follow a specific sequence of progression. Multiple contestants typically compete by passing under the bar in a single-file line. Once everyone has successfully passed, the bar is lowered slightly for the next round. This process repeats, with the bar getting lower each time. The competition continues until only one person remains who can pass under the bar without touching it. In some entertainment settings, performers have added new elements. Choreographer Julia Edwards introduced the use of human "bars" made from the limbs of other players. She also incorporated the use of fire into professional limbo performances.

The history of limbo is linked to deep cultural meanings. It dates back to the mid to late 1800s in Tobago. Traditionally, the game was performed at wakes, which are gatherings for the deceased. In these traditional settings, the bar often started at a low height and was raised. This movement symbolized life emerging from death. Some scholars suggest the dance may relate to an African game called legba. Other theories suggest the dance represents spirits crossing into the afterworld, or "limbo." Dr. Alan Rice notes that the dance may reflect the limited spaces in slave ships. He suggests it may have symbolized the African ability to escape those restricted spaces.

Limbo achieved mainstream global popularity during the 1950s. A dance pioneer named Julia Edwards, known as the "First Lady of Limbo," helped spread the dance. Her company appeared in the 1957 film *Fire Down Below*. Throughout the 1960s, her troupe toured across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Africa. The dance also became a physical fitness exercise for American troops. In the United States, pop music helped create a massive craze. The song "Limbo Rock" by Chubby Checker reached number 2 on the Billboard Top 100. This song helped popularize the famous chant, "How low can you go?"

The dance is closely connected to various musical styles. Players generally move in response to specific Afro-Caribbean drum patterns. In Jamaica, the music for limbo was often based on a clave rhythm. This rhythm is also found in Jamaican mento music from the 1950s. Trinidadian Calypsonian Brigo helped bring the dance to the mainstream with his Soca song "Limbo Break." Today, the dance is found in many settings, including skating rinks and large social events. It remains a vital part of the cultural identity in the Caribbean islands.

Extreme skill in limbo is demonstrated through world records. Dennis Walston held the record for the lowest limbo game in March 1991. Shemika Charles, a woman from Trinidad living in Buffalo, New York, holds the record for the lowest female limbo. She achieved this by passing under a bar that was just above the ground on 16 September 2010. She also holds a record for the "Farthest Distance Limbo Under 12 inches." On 9 October 2020, she completed a dance under vehicles. This record-setting performance measured a distance of 12.67 feet, or 3.8 meters. These feats show the incredible flexibility and athleticism required by the dance.