Popular Dances:
Dance Marathon- also known as Walkathons, was a phenomenon of the lower classes. They were human endurance contests in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money. The dance marathons originated in the 1920's and persisted into the 1930's and the Great Depression. Depression-era marathons lasted up to six months, with ten-minute hourly breaks for dancers. If one partner’s knees touched the floor, the couple was disqualified. Entering a dance marathon was often an act of economic desperation by the participants. They occupied a slightly disrespectable niche in society, and many towns banned them, finding them disruptive, disturbing, and even repugnant.
The Lindy Hop- As Charles Lindbergh made his famous nonstop flight from the United States to Europe in 1927, this dance style was becoming popular in Harlem, New York, and up and down the East Coast. The dance owes its origins to black influence and is known as the Grand Daddy of Swing. The dance was given its name after a dance enthusiast named "Shorty" George Snowden was watching dancing couples and a reporter asked him what dance they were doing. A newspaper article that read "Lindy Hops the Atlantic" about Lindbergh's flight to Paris was nearby and the man simply said they were doing the Lindy Hop and the name stuck. The dance later became known as the Jitterbug.
The Balboa- Originating in a large ballroom in Balboa Island, California, in the 1930s, this dance is known for its smooth, tight footwork. It is said to have developed because ballrooms would become so crowded that the couples had no room to dance or swing their partner. The dance is ideal for fast tempos and has earned its place in cartoon history as the dance done by Popeye.
The Carolina Shag- Originating on North Myrtle Beach, this dance is the official dance of the Carolinas. Danced to beach music, the Shag was popular on the West Coast where it was mainly danced in dance competitions that were popular in the 1930s. It was also known as a "man's dance" because the man would do all the turns and fancy footwork. The Shag is still popular today in many dance communities.
The Lindy Hop- As Charles Lindbergh made his famous nonstop flight from the United States to Europe in 1927, this dance style was becoming popular in Harlem, New York, and up and down the East Coast. The dance owes its origins to black influence and is known as the Grand Daddy of Swing. The dance was given its name after a dance enthusiast named "Shorty" George Snowden was watching dancing couples and a reporter asked him what dance they were doing. A newspaper article that read "Lindy Hops the Atlantic" about Lindbergh's flight to Paris was nearby and the man simply said they were doing the Lindy Hop and the name stuck. The dance later became known as the Jitterbug.
The Balboa- Originating in a large ballroom in Balboa Island, California, in the 1930s, this dance is known for its smooth, tight footwork. It is said to have developed because ballrooms would become so crowded that the couples had no room to dance or swing their partner. The dance is ideal for fast tempos and has earned its place in cartoon history as the dance done by Popeye.
The Carolina Shag- Originating on North Myrtle Beach, this dance is the official dance of the Carolinas. Danced to beach music, the Shag was popular on the West Coast where it was mainly danced in dance competitions that were popular in the 1930s. It was also known as a "man's dance" because the man would do all the turns and fancy footwork. The Shag is still popular today in many dance communities.