Jazz.
Shortly after the Armistice, American morale was rejuvinated and people returned to the dance floor. Despite the French ban on public dancing until 1918, the French in their victory danced as they did in their pre-war frenzy. The Roaring Twenties brought many new styles of dance:
- The Black Bottom- originating in New Orleans, this dance was brought to New York mid-1920's. Prominent jazz musician Jelly Rolly Morton wrote "Black Bottom Stomp", the George White's Scandals featured the dance in their performance at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. The original song was made by black pianist/composer/dancer Perry Bradford and were based on a dance done in Jacksonville, Florida "way back."
- The Charleston- a dance named for Charleston, SC was composed by well known pianist/composer James Johnson. The Charleston's peak years were 1926 to 1927. The dance was created by Kathryn Wilson, and was associated with flappers and speakeasys. It was then considered provocative and immoral.
- The Foxtrot- a smooth progressive dance, that resembles the waltz. Has long continuous motions, and is danced to a "big band". This dance, unlike many of this time, was sophisticated and full of elegance. One theory of origination is the vaudeville actor Harry Fox, but was discovered by Vernon Castle and Betty Lee.
- The Tango - a dance that originated in the 1890's in Argentina, and is very popular around the world; there are many different versions of the dance. styles are mostly danced in either open embrace, where lead and follow have space between their bodies, or close embrace, where the lead and follow connect either chest-to-chest (Argentine tango) or in the upper thigh, hip area (American and International tango).
- The Baltimore Buzz- this dance is also referred to as the "Lowdown Step", the dance is more of a step than a whole dance. It was popularized by dancer Florence Mills.
The Radio.
The radio was a key component of Jazz being so popular. The radio
of the 1920's was equivalent to the television the 21st century. In
America, 60% of families bought a radio; radios were so popular
that the music played would inspire dancing and partying, consequently
making the 1920's years full of music and dancing. Families all gathered
to listen to whatever the radio was broadcasting, which during the 1920's
was the upbeat, saxaphone filled, jazz music!
of the 1920's was equivalent to the television the 21st century. In
America, 60% of families bought a radio; radios were so popular
that the music played would inspire dancing and partying, consequently
making the 1920's years full of music and dancing. Families all gathered
to listen to whatever the radio was broadcasting, which during the 1920's
was the upbeat, saxaphone filled, jazz music!
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