1950’s - Hand Jive and Cha Chaīy the time the mid-century rolled around, people began taking the Jive to their hands, quite literally dancing with their hands in fast movements. All these fun styles are social and quick and surely lifted the spirits of Americans at home during such a storied section of world history. In addition to the Mambo, East Coast Swing also took the spotlight, which featured dances like the Modern Jive, Boogie Woogie, Rock and Roll, and Collegiate Shag. In the ‘40s, the Mambo rose to popularity (think of Lou Bega’s catchy tune, “Mambo Number 5”) thanks to the Cuban dance style reaching America’s dance floors. Americans needed a way to relieve their stress, and one of the best ways to do that to this day is to dance, of course! Remember that this time period was difficult for America-it came off the heels of The Great Depression, which spanned the entire ‘30s, and then catapulted into World War II in 1941. The ‘40s were very much alive with dancing and movement, so much so, in fact, that there is not one particular dance style that categorizes this decade. And if you’re shaking your head, thinking the Moonwalk was created by Michael Jackson, think again-this move, though called “The Buzz” at the time, was first stepped by Jazz icon Cab Calloway as early as 1932.Ĭalloway regularly performed at the famous Cotton Club in Harlem, and others like him also showed off their fancy footwork now known as the Moonwalk. What if you were dancing when the Moonwalk was the move of choice? That was the case in the ‘30s after the Jive died down in the early part of the decade. If the feeling of swinging around the dance floor sounds like a dream, you’re going to love this iconic American jazz variation. Swing dancing is about as social as it gets, which is why it’s so fun to learn (and teach). What was so special about swing during this moment in American history was the fact that it brought touch back to the dance floor. During this time, it was common to step into a “swing scene,” enjoy dancing to Big Band music and chat and laugh with friends. Specfically, swing dancing in the latter half of the decade. 10 Decades of Dancing in the USA 1920’s - Swing DancingĪs we mentioned above, social dance was a high point in the ‘20s. Each decade in the past centennial has had its own dancing identity, so today we’re going to take you a few quick steps through the ways dancing has continued to define American culture (and its good-hearted pastimes!). Plus, the fashion and beauty styles back then were pretty interesting too.īut let’s not forget the other decades that danced their way through time. history for the high-energy dancing and the impact it had on our country’s culture. If your memory serves you correctly, you’d most definitely be dancing! The ‘20s are most-remembered in U.S. Imagine you’re in the Roaring Twenties, either sporting a newsboy cap (the original kind) or a sleek, short hairdo and a tassled dress.
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