Pata Pata [IFD line dance] – South Africa/USA [unknown]
| Links: | |
| Translation: | touch touch |
| Region: | Johannesburg (actual dance) USA? (line dance version) |
| Choreographed: | unknown |
| Year: | mid-1950s (original dance) 1967 USA Afro-Pop recording ? IFD choreography unknown date |
| Type of Dance: | Line Dance: individuals in lines |
| Category: | Oldies RIFD/Recreational non-ethnic |
| Formation: | Rows of Individuals facing 1 wall |
| Skill: | Beginner |
| Energy: | Moderate |
| Hand Hold: | Individuals |
| Stars With: | R toe touch R |
| Meter: | 4/4 |
| Song: | Pata Pata |
| Artist: | Miriam Makeba |
| Date Taught: | |
| Teacher: | |
| Posted: | January 12, 2024 |
| Updated: | January 13, 2024 |
Pata Pata is an actual style of dance done in Johannesburg, South Africa starting in the mid 1950s, before Miriam Makeba wrote a song about doing the dance in the late 1950s and in 1967 made a studio recording in USA that brought worldwide fame. I find it difficult to believe that the line dance version done by IFD (international folk dance) groups was created in South Africa, when they have the real-deal Pata Pata dance there instead. Regardless, this line dance is fun, and you get to grove to the irresistible vibe of this US Billboard Hot 100 1967 #12 hit.
The name of the dance, Pata Pata, is the name from Xhosa language that translates roughly to “touch touch.” Xhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa and Zimbabwe. Fun Fact” Xhosa “has perhaps the heaviest functional load of click consonants in a Bantu language (approximately tied with Yeyi), with one count finding that 10% of basic vocabulary items contained a click.“
The Actual Pata Pata Dance
There are many variations to the dance, but all involve using the hands to pat the ground, yourself, or others. It’s a very strange coincidence that the Xhosa word associated with “touch” sounds like he English word “pat,” and that’s what you need to do in the dance!
One description of a Pata Pata dance I found:
The “Pata Pata” dance involves two eight-counts of using your arms to pat the ground and your side. For the first four counts, you use your right arm to pat the ground and your thigh, and then your left arm to do the same. For the second four counts, you create a V shape with your arms, and then clap.
For the third four counts, you reach your arms upward and across your body, and then pat the ground. You do this for both your left and right sides.
The final four counts are spent “punching” your arms out in front of you, and then patting the ground. You do this for both your right and left sides.
Nicole Devlin, History of the Folk Dance “Pata Pata” on Our Pastimes
Lyrics
Lyrics TranslateSaguquka sathi ‘bheka’ Nants’ iPata Pata Saguquka sathi ‘bheka’ Nants’ iPata Pata Yiyo mama, yiyo mama Nants’ iPata Pata Yiyo mama, yiyo mama Nants’ iPata Pata Pata Pata is the name of the dance We do down Johannesburg way And everybody starts to move As soon as Pata Pata starts to play Saguquka sathi ‘bheka’ Nants’ iPata Pata Saguquka sathi ‘bheka’ Nants’ iPata Pata Yiyo mama, yiyo mama Nants’ iPata Pata Yiyo mama, yiyo mama Nants’ iPata Pata Every Friday and Saturday night It’s Pata Pata time! The dance keeps going all night long Til’ the morning sun begins to shine! Saguquka sathi ‘bheka’ Nants’ iPata Pata Saguquka sathi ‘bheka’ Nants’ iPata Pata Yiyo mama, yiyo mama Nants’ iPata Pata Yiyo mama, yiyo mama Nants’ iPata PataSo we grooved and said: "Check it out!" This is the Pata Pata... So we grooved and said: "Check it out!" This is the Pata Pata... That’s it, lady! This is the Pata Pata… That’s it, lady! This is the Pata Pata… Pata Pata is the name of the dance We do down Johannesburg way And everybody starts to move As soon as Pata Pata starts to play So we grooved and said: "Check it out!" This is the Pata Pata... So we grooved and said: "Check it out!" This is the Pata Pata... That’s it, lady! This is the Pata Pata… That’s it, lady! This is the Pata Pata… Every Friday and Saturday Night It’s Pata Pata time! The dance keeps going all night long Til’ the morning sun begins to shine! So we grooved and said: "Check it out!" This is the Pata Pata... So we grooved and said: "Check it out!" This is the Pata Pata... That’s it, lady! This is the Pata Pata That’s it, lady! This is the Pata Pata ------------------- Pata Pata – Hold/carry (in this sense, to hold or touch suggestively) Saguquka – We turned around/changed (in this sense, to groove) Sathi – We said Bheka – Look Yiyo – That’s the one/that’s it Nantsi This is (it)/Here (it)