Dance of the Decades Study Guide – 2012 B curriculum

1920’s

  • Known as the Roaring 20’s
  • Dances of the 1920’s had increased tempos and used isolated body parts. The dances were considered vulgar, unacceptable and dangerous on the knees
  • 1922 Decency Rules monitoring the length of women’s apparel.
  • Prohibition, Alcohol was illegal. People met at nightclubs called Speakeasies.
  • P.C.Q. Signs posted outside clubs warning patrons to “Please Charleston Quietly”
  • Dances of the 20’s: Charleston,

1930’s

  • The Great Depression with Stock Market Crash of 1929
  • Dance Marathons: people desperate for money would participate in these grueling event in hopes of winning some money
  • 1936 Jesse Owens won 4 Gold medals at the Olympics which upset Adolf Hitler
  • Movie Stars Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were the iconic dance couple

1940’s

  • World War II and the bombing of Pearl Harbor
  • Era of Swing music and dance
  • The Jitterbug, a style of swing dance was very popular yet in Germany, you could be punished for doing the Jitterbug because of the Jewish composures such as Benny Goodman.
  • The Jitterbug is also known as the lindy hop.
  • The Lindy hop got its name from Charles Lindberg the first person to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The high flying break away steps were likened to the flying of an airplane.
  • Dances of the 30’s-40’s:swing, jitterbug, lindy hop – variations of swing

1950’s

  • Troops come home
  • Start of the Baby Boomers
  • Rock n Roll became popular
  • Elvis was the king of Rock n Roll. His pelvic movements caused much controversy. He was shown only from the waist up on television.
  • Americans started to own Televisions (black and white only)
  • Poodle skirts and Leather jackets
  • Bands and dances were featured on television by Dick Clark’s American Bandstand
  • Move away from couple dances and more mingling dances and hip gyrations
  • Marilyn Monroe was in the movies
  • Dances of the 50’s: stroll, hand jive, twist
  • 1960’s
  • Known as the decade that lost its innocence
  • President John F Kennedy was killed
  • Civil Rights Protests and Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream Speech”
  • Vietnam War
  • Movements become more grounded and lots of closed fist gestures.
  • Soul Music –a form of rock and roll based on gospel music.
  • James Brown was known as the God Father of Soul. He was idolized by Michael Jackson for his sliding feet movements.
  • Chubby Checker created the twist
  • In 1969, the signature event, Woodstock took place. It was 3 day event of music, love-peace, etc. Over 500,000 people gathered including musicians, Black Militants, Anti-War Protesters, Vietnam Veterans, and Anti-Government Advocates.
  • Dances of the 60’s: pony, hitchhiker, mashed potato, twist, swim, monkey

1970’s

  • Disco Era
  • Music had a strong beat with Latin influence.
  • Mid 70’s the Hustle was very popular in New York.
  • Couple dancing was back in style.
  • Platform shoes, polyester leisure suits, go-go boots and short skirts were the fashion.
  • Saturday Night Fever and Jaws were the two most popular movies.
  • Dances of the 70’s: Latin hustle, The bump, John Travolta Point,

1980’s

  • Break Dancing created by streetwise youth became popular. It was full of spins, shoulder stands, jerks and popping.
  • Michael Jackson gave us the “moonwalk.”
  • Hard rock music also became popular
  • Beginning of Rap music
  • Dances of the 80’s:Break dancing, Vogue,Moon walk

1990’s

  • Rise in popularity of County Western Dancing
  • Boot scooting Boogie and Achy Breaky Heart were two signature line dances
  • In 1996 the US Women’s gymnastics team won the Olympic Gold medal and celebrated by dancing the Macarena.
  • Person Computers was the trendy electronic device.
  • Fashion was cowboy boots, tight jeans, cowboy hats.
  • Dances of the 90’s: Country line dances, Macarena, M.C Hammer shuffle