South African Mines

• The South African mines were often filled with infected water that caused foot problems among the workers. Rather than draining the water, the bosses found it much less expensive to provide the miners with knee-high Wellington boots.
  
  

Communication

• As speaking was forbidden, the miners communicated by slapping their boots and rattling their ankle chains.
  
  

Entertainment

• In addition to communication, this "dance" also served as entertainment for the miners. They developed the percussive sounds and movements into a unique dance form.
  
  

Modern Dance Form

• The Gumboot Dance is now a working class dance form in South Africa. Dancers now use contemporary music along with the traditional gumboot steps.
  
  

Gumboots Production

• The dance has inspired the theatrical production, "Gumboots." This touring show features 12 performers displaying traditional and contemporary gumboot dances.