Throwback Thursday and The Charleston
It is believed that The Charleston originated in black
communities near coastal Charleston, South Carolina – hence the name.
The Charleston had been performed in African American groups
since 1903, but the dance didn’t become wildly popular until 1923 when it was
featured in the Broadway musical Running
Wild. The dance was accompanied by a song called “The Charleston” composed
by James P. Johnson.
The Charleston became extremely popular in the 1920s, often
performed by Flappers. Flappers were
unconventional young women who threw away restrictive clothing like corsets and
pantaloons and danced in a lightened- up wardrobe that changed the face of fashion
forever. They also gradually raised their hemlines to better allow for the
energetic movements The Charleston required. (Sounds a lot like what happened
to the evolution of the tutu in classical ballet.) Needless to say, this was all
considered scandalous at the time, and The Charleston was banned from many
dance halls.
The Charleston is danced to ragtime jazz music in a quick
4/4 time. It can be danced as a solo, with a partner, or in a group.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Dance History Factoid #60:
“The Charleston is
believed to have originated in black communities near the coast of Charleston,
S.C.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
“It is with your feet that you move…but it
is with your heart that you dance.”
-
Aalaynah Thompson
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