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In modern times, stilts are occasionally used for practical purposes, such as for helping a construction worker to reach high places. For the most part, however, stilt walkers are people that provide entertainment at parties and events with their silly antics and their amazing ability to walk without problems on sticks that are several feet long. Although we usually think of stilt walkers as being dressed in loud and bright costumes and performing juggling tricks and other antics, the first known stilt walker wasn’t silly at all. In fact, the first well-documented walker was Sylvain Dornon, who walked from Paris to Moscow on stilts in 58 days in 1891. Though this is the first documented walk, some parts of France are known to have commonly used stilts prior to the 1870s. In Gascony, stilts were actually created in the early 1800s in order to help sheepherders with walking throughout the plains, which were covered with bushes and heath. In addition, the ground had a tendency to become marsh-like after a rain and there were no roads. As such, five foot tall stilts were created to help the people move about in these conditions. With the help of their stilts, the shepherds were able to successfully go through the bush and marshes while transporting their sheep. The elevation provided by the stilts also made it possible for the shepherd to better watch over their flocks. The shepherds were quite skilled with the stilts and, as such, were able to take long strides, to run, and to perform small tricks such as picking flowers, pretending to fall and to rise up quickly, and even running on one foot. Soon, the use of the stilts and the skill of the walkers became looked upon as a form of entertainment. Today, that tradition lives on with stilt walker performers. |
2005