Introducing... The original speed dating!

This is part one of a series of articles charting highlights of partner dancing in the twentieth century. It was originally commissioned and published by Vintage Life Magazine, October 2015* with a new article following each month for each subsequent decade.

Let's catch up with part one: leading up to and including the 1900s...

It would be impossible to do justice to the entire history of worldwide partnered dance in a single article, clearly! I have chosen European 'society' dances and American vernacular jazz dances. These eventually lead to rock n roll, jive and what many now know as 'swing dancing'; my area of expertise. There is still SO much to cover, so let's get stuck in!

Dances served - and still serve - a very important purpose in our communities. They provide a welcoming environment for people to meet, mingle and let off steam. During social dances throughout the ages there was sometimes close, if brief, contact with the opposite sex, and in 'proper’ society circles - til perhaps even World War Two - this was one of the few places one could (with some measure of freedom) interact with those outside ones direct family or household. We might call partner dancing the original 'speed dating'!

Thank you to www.americanethnography.com

In Patsy Holden's article ‘Civilised Dancing’ for americanenthnology.com, she notes that: “Dances went from being imported to America from Europe to the other way around during the early 1900's”. Many Christians were none too happy that women and men were connecting in this way and much action was taken to discourage partner dancing. In particular by ‘none so pure as the purified’ Thomas A Faulkner: previously Proprietor of the Los Angeles Dancing Academy and ex-President of Dancing Masters’ Association of the Pacific Coast, who wrote From Ball-Room to Hell in 1892.

By Anonymous -
http://community.livejournal.com/retro_ladies/190520.html,
Public Domain,

In the nineteenth century, a tradition of 'prizewalks' began in the deep south. Plantation slaves would enjoy brief respite by dressing up and dancing. Accounts vary but it is understood that the walks involved parodies of plantation owners and some Charleston moves still echo this playful spirit. Not quite the grandeur of trophies and competitions such as ‘Strictly’ today, but nonetheless coveted titles in their day. Dance prizes became cakes and the name ‘Cakewalk’ - strutting one’s stuff for a prize - came into more popular use.

The banjo was the most likely instrument to be seen on the plantations and enjoy continued popularity well into the twentieth century, though it was eventually eclipsed by the guitar. The European country dances would be accompanied by fiddle and bodhran (drum) at Ceilidhs. Waltzes were often written for piano and then played by string quartets at dances, with little or no percussive or ‘rhythm’ section added. Composers such as Franz Schubert composed many waltzes intended for purely social dancers - rather than virtuoso musical performances.

The new century is beginning and the Tower Ballroom has recently opened in Blackpool, England. Jazz and blues music continue to make their way across the USA via the musicians travelling from creative hubs like New Orleans and Memphis. Innovation in partner dance is underway whether it be in waltz, blues or what are to become known later as 'swing' dances. Tango hasn’t been exported from Argentina quite yet, but is gaining in momentum during this first decade of the twentieth century.

We might these days think of waltz as 'straight laced', given it has exact requirements regarding alignment, the placing of one's feet and the focus upon 'correctness'. Watch an episode of 'Strictly' and listen to the judges' critique of Viennese waltz and you will see what I mean! It has however, enjoyed sustained popularity for centuries, this author has her fingers crossed for the same happening with the swing styles!

"Vien Walz"--circa 1820s Hungarian print of salon waltzing
photographed withowner's permission near the office door
 of the 300-year old Piaristenkellar 

Viennese waltz and scottische are early examples of dances where a single lead and follow couple remained together throughout the dance. The ‘lead’ chose the steps with which to progress in the accepted direction of travel around the floor. Though the couples had begun to ‘social dance’ to their own choice of moves, they would still - and still do at ballroom dancing events - progress around the dance floor in a particular direction at once.
Any ‘overtaking’ other couples should be executed with finesse!

By 1900s we know that 'slow drag' was being danced to the emerging blues music in Memphis and other musical cities. To picture slow drag, imagine alternating your weight from your left to your right foot, and back, feet hip width apart. Now take slightly larger steps side to side and as you step, allow your free foot to 'slow(ly) drag' across the floor towards the foot you've stepped onto (repeat at will). If you then stand with a partner, connect via holding hands and mirror each other, we now having the beginnings of one style of (partner) blues dance as it's known and still danced today.

Courtesy of www.storyvilledistrictnola.com

W. C. Handy wrote some of the first published blues songs, and as we progress to the 1910s and beyond, we will suggest who to listen to to evoke the mood of the decades as we examine them in turn. Blues and Jazz will consistently gain in momentum and popularity for decades to come.

This image shows the Buddy Bolden Band in 1905


In England, James Finnigan (first President of the Manchester and Salford Association of Teachers of Dancing, founded in 1903) is credited with devising the military two step. You can view contemporary clips of dancers emulating military balls from many eras, (19)00s included, online. There you will see varying levels of authenticity in wardrobe options. Gentlemen were most often seen in tail coats at dances and it is pre World War One so fabric for women’s dresses isn’t restricted as yet. Surveying the dance floor you would have seen dresses with modest necklines, lamb chop sleeves, full length gloves, and, of course, full skirts to the floor (absolutely no ankles on show!)

As the century establishes itself, mass migration for better opportunities continues and cross pollination in both music and dance is one of the many wonderful results of this. Those of us enjoying jive, swing or ballroom today owe a great debt to the incorporation of African movement into the ballroom dances across turn of the century America. Swing and blues dance have enchanted me for 8 years, and I look forward to showing you why in the coming posts!


Velody helps you maximise your comfort and fun on the dance floor. 
She curates many vintage dance events, including the Cotton City Blues festival:

*This article was originally printed in Vintage Life Magazine, October 2015. Most previous editions are now SOLD OUT so subscribe to this blog to get more dancing through the decades straight to your inbox!