Tuesday Dance Trivia: Ragtime era and the Animal Dances
by Alain Wong
Last week’s answer
Quote from civil rights leader Malcolm X, “All the other dancers would form a big ‘U’ with the band at the open end. The girls (…) would slip over to the sidelines and change from high heels into low white
sneakers” (from The Autobiography of Malcolm X). What is Malcolm “X” Little referring to?
ANSWER: Malcolm X is referring to a typical competition among Lindy Hoppers, in what we refer to as jam-style format today (or jam circle). The omitted text reads “The girls who intended to compete would slip over to the sidelines and change from high heels into low white sneakers. In competition they could never survive in heels”.
Congrats Tammy for guessing part of the answer.
This Week’s Tuesday Dance Trivia Question: Ragtime era and the animal dances
During the ragtime era at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, people started partner-dancing to the new syncopated rhythms and created new dance steps. Ballrooms became playgrounds for grownups, where people did “le pas de l’ours” and “le pas du dindon”. Name five other Animal Dances.
Know the answer? Let everyone know and comment.
I think I’ve seen this episode at a meeting in Herrang…
Turkey Trot (even though you already mentioned le pas du dindon)
Camel Walk
Chicken Scratch
Possum Trot
Bunny Hug
Crab Step
Lame Duck
I’ve done the first two but would love to see clips of the others if anyone finds some.
the snake
the grizzly bear
the kangaroo hop
the horse trot
the squirrel
Robin and I taught an Animal Dances class once. We used a video “Dance of the Ragtime Era” to steal some steps. They’re a lot fun, but really silly of course.
here’s a link to the video for sale: http://www.dancetimepublications.com/store/HTD_Vol2.shtml
Of course the Fox Trot
Dog Trot
Snake Hips
Duck Waddle
Fishtail
Picket Fence (not an animal but a ragtime dance done with the animal dances)
You can also check out this website for a video of animal dances. I recently joined the dance troupe in this video. https://www.nationalfilmnetwork.com/store/default.aspx
Oh and forgot the Turkey Trot.
Who could forget the timeless Marmot Dance? http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=56642508155
The marmot dance is of course the root of all swing dance
[...] Last week’s answer During the ragtime era at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, people started partner-dancing to the new syncopated rhythms and created new dance steps. Ballrooms became playgrounds for grownups, where people did “le pas de l’ours” and “le pas du dindon”. Name five other Animal Dances. ANSWER: Animal Dances include the Turkey Trot, the Chicken Scratch, the Monkey Glide, the Grizzly Bear, the Bunny Hug, the Fox Trot, the Camel Walk, the Squirrel, the Duck Waddle, the Buzzard Lope and many more. These simple and easy-to-do dances were caricatures of animal movement, and did not require the intricate patterns of 19th century European dances. As Freddie mentioned, you can learn these dances on How to dance through time Vol. II. Dances of the Ragtime Era 1910-1920 [...]
Thx Freddie for the link to the video sale. You can also purchase it on Amazon as well - it’s worth it if you can get free shipping: How to dance through time Vol. II. Dances of the Ragtime Era 1910-1920
We received our copy not long ago and love the grizzly bear!