The Charleston is a dance named for the city of Charleston, South Carolina. Josephine Baker (or Joséphine Baker in Francophone countries ( June 3, 1906 &ndash April 12, 1975) was an American-born Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) is an Art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic Charleston is a city in Charleston county in the US state of South Carolina. The rhythm was popularized in mainstream dance music in the United States of America by a 1923 tune called The Charleston by composer/pianist James P. Johnson which originated in the Broadway show Runnin' Wild[1] and became one of the most popular hits of the decade. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Charleston was a jazz orchestration meant for the Charleston (dance composed in 1923, with lyrics by Cecil Mack and music by James P Johnson James Price Johnson ( February 1 1894 &ndash November 17 1955) was an African-American Pianist and Composer. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located
While it developed in African-American communities in the USA, the Charleston became a popular dance craze in the wider international community in the 1920s. Despite its black history, Charleston is most frequently associated with white flappers and the speakeasy. The term flapper in the 1920s referred to a "new breed" of young Women who wore short skirts bobbed their hair listened to the new Jazz music A speakeasy was an establishment that surreptitiously sold Alcoholic beverages during the period of United States history known as Prohibition (1920-1933 Here, these young women would dance alone or together as a way of mocking the "drys," or citizens who supported the Prohibition amendment, as Charleston was then considered quite immoral and provocative. Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, also known as Noble Experiment, refers to a Sumptuary law which prohibits Alcohol
Charleston was one of the dances from which Lindy Hop and Jazz Roots developed in the 1930s, though the breakaway is popularly considered an intermediary dance form. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 From 1919 to 1927 Breakaway was a popular Swing dance developed from the Texas Tommy and Charleston in Harlem 's African American A slightly different form of Charleston became popular in the 1930s and 40s, and is associated with Lindy Hop. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 In this later Charleston form, the hot jazz timing of the 1920s Charleston was adapted to suit the swing jazz music of the 30s and 40s. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of Jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and had solidified as a distinctive style by 1935 in the United This style of Charleston has many common names, though the most common are 'Lindy Charleston', 'Savoy Charleston', '30s or 40s Charleston' and 'Swing(ing) Charleston'. In both '20s Charleston' and 'Swinging Charleston' the basic step takes 8 counts and was danced either alone or with a partner.
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Charleston today
Today Charleston is an important dance in Lindy Hop dance culture, danced in many permutations: alone (solo), with a partner or in groups of couples or solo dancers. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 The basic step allows for a vast range of variations and improvisation. Both the 1920s and Swinging Charleston styles are popular today, though swinging Charleston is more commonly integrated into Lindy Hop dancing.
Solo
Charleston can be danced solo, its simple, flexible basic step making it easy to concentrate on styling, improvisation and musicality. Improvisation (also called extemporization) is the practice of acting singing talking and reacting of making and creating in the moment and in response to the stimulus of Musicality refers to fitting a Dance to the Music being played with the goal of relating the dance to the music's Rhythm, Melody, and mood
Whichever style of Charleston one chooses, whether dancing alone, with a partner, or in groups, the basic step resembles the natural movement of walking, though it is usually performed in place. Walking (also called ambulation) is the main form of Animal Locomotion on land, distinguished from Running and crawling The arms swing forward and backwards, with the right arm coming forward as the left leg 'steps' forward, and then moving back as the opposite arm/leg begin their forwards movement. Toes are not pointed, but feet usually form a right angle with the leg at the ankle. Arms are usually extended from the shoulder, either with straight lines, or more frequently with bent elbows and hands at right angles from the wrist (characteristics of many African dances). In this article African dance refers mainly to the dance of black Africa and more appropriately African dances because of the many cultural differences in musical and movement Styling varies with each Charleston type from this point, though all utilise a 'bounce'.
Solo 20s Charleston
Solo 20s Charleston has recently gained popularity in many local Lindy Hop scenes around the world, prompted by competitions such as the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown (in 2005 and 2006 particularly) and workshops in the dance taught by high profile dancers such as the Harlem Hot Shots (formerly known as The Rhythm Hot Shots) and a range of independent dancers. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 The Hot Shots is a collective name for two closely related Swedish dance companies based in Stockholm, Sweden: The Rhythm Hot Shots and The Hot Shots is a collective name for two closely related Swedish dance companies based in Stockholm, Sweden: The Rhythm Hot Shots and Usually danced to hot jazz music recorded or composed in the 1920s, 20s solo Charleston is styled quite differently to the Charleston associated with the 1930s, 1940s and Lindy Hop, though they are structurally similar. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States
Solo 20s Charleston is usually danced to music at comparatively high tempos (usually above 200 beats per minute, with tempos above 300 BPM considered 'fast'), and is characterised by high-energy dancing. 2266-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl or TEMPO is the Chemical compound with the formula (CH23(CMe22NO Beats per minute ( BPM) is a unit typically used as either a measure of Tempo in music or a measure of one's Heart rate. Faster movements are often contrasted with slower, dragging steps and improvisations.
As it is danced today, solo 20s Charleston often combines not only steps from dances associated with the 1920s (such as the Black Bottom and the Cakewalk), but also jazz dance. Black Bottom refers to a Dance which became popular in the 1920s during the period known as the Flapper era This article is about the form of music and dance For the musical notation program see Cakewalk (sequencer. Jazz dance is an umbrella term that can refer to several related dance styles The most valued form of solo 20s Charleston combines choreography with improvisation and creative variations on familiar dance steps. Above all, the most popular and most "successful" solo 20s Charleston dancers respond to the music in creative ways to express themselves.
Solo 20s Charleston is often danced in groups on the social dance floor or in formal choreography.
Solo 1920s Charleston Competition
Solo 1920s Charleston competitions often utilise elements of the jam circle format, where individual competitors take turns dancing alone for the audience (usually for intervals of a phrase or number of phrases). Jamming in Dance culture is a kind of informal show-off during a Social dance party In Music a phrase ( Greek φράση, sentence expression, see also Strophe) is a section of music that is relatively Competitors move forwards to the audience out of an informal line, usually taking advantage of this movement to perform 'strolls' or other 'travelling' steps, taking the opportunity to "shine".
Despite the emphasis on solo dancing in these sorts of competitions, there is often much interaction between competitors and between the audience and competitors, frequently in the employment of comic devices (such as "silly walks" or impersonations) or showy and physically impressive "stunt" moves. This type of interaction is typical of the call and response of West African and Afro-American music and dance. In Music, a call and response is a succession of two distinct phrases usually played by different Musicians where the second phrase is heard as a direct In this call and response, audiences and fellow competitors encourage dancers with cheers, shouts, applause, physical gestures and other feedback.
This sort of competition structure is increasingly popular in Lindy Hop communities around the world, providing added challenges for dancers, new types of pleasure for audiences and emphasising social dancing skills such as improvisation and musicality. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 Improvisation (also called extemporization) is the practice of acting singing talking and reacting of making and creating in the moment and in response to the stimulus of Musicality refers to fitting a Dance to the Music being played with the goal of relating the dance to the music's Rhythm, Melody, and mood This structure also echoes the cutting contests of jazz music which Ralph Ellison describes in his stories about live jazz music in the 1930s. Ralph Waldo Ellison ( March 1, 1914 &ndash April 16, 1994) was a Scholar and Writer. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States
Partner Charleston
Partner Charleston uses the basic step described above, though stylistic changes over the 1920s, 30s and 40s affected the styling, as well as ways of holding a partner. Traditionally partner charleston was danced by a man and woman, but now - as then - both men and women dance with same-gender partners, though women partner up with women more frequently than men partner with men.
20s Partner Charleston
In 20s partner Charleston couples stand facing each other in a traditional European partner dancing pose, often referred to as closed position which aids leading and following. Partner dances are the Dances whose basic choreography involves coordinated dancing of two partners as opposed to individuals dancing alone or individually In partner dancing, closed position is a category of positions in which partners hold each other while facing at least approximately toward each other In partner dancing, the two partners are labelled as the leader and the follower, or lead and follow. The leader's right hand is placed on the follower's back between their shoulder blades. The follower's left hand rests on the leader's shoulder or biceps. The leader's left hand and the follower's right hand are clasped palm to palm, held either at shoulder height or higher. Partners may maintain space between their bodies or dance with their torsos touching. The basic step is for the leader to touch their left foot behind them, but not to shift their weight, on counts 1 and 2, while the follower mirrors the motion by touching their right foot in front of them without shifting weight. On counts 3 and 4, both partners bring their feet back to a standing position, but shift their weight onto the foot they have just moved. On counts 5 and 6, the leader touches their right foot in front of themselves while the follower touches their left foot back. On 7 and 8, both feet are brought back to the standing position where the necessary weight shift occurs to allow the basic step to repeat.
30s and 40s Partner Charleston
30s and 40s Partner Charleston involves a number of positions, including "jockey position", where closed position is opened out so that both partners may face forward, without breaking apart. In partner dancing, closed position is a category of positions in which partners hold each other while facing at least approximately toward each other
In "side-by-side" Charleston partners open out the closed position entirely, so that their only points of connection are at their touching hips, and where the lead's right hand and arm touch the follower's back, and the follower's left hand and arm touch the leader's shoulder and arm. In partner dancing, closed position is a category of positions in which partners hold each other while facing at least approximately toward each other Connection is essential to all partner Dancing.In Argentine Tango, Lindy Hop, Balboa, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing Both partners then swing their free arms as they would in solo Charleston. In both jockey and side-by-side Charleston the leader steps back onto their left foot, while the follower steps back onto their right. In "tandem Charleston" one partner stands in front of the other (usually the follower, though the arrangement may vary), and both step back onto their left feet to begin. The partner behind holds the front partner's hands at their hip height, and their joined arms swing backwards and forwards as in the basic step.
There are numerous other variations on these holds, including "hand-to-hand" Charleston, and countless variations on the footwork (including Johnny's Drop, freezes, Savoy kicks and so on). A freeze is a Breakdance technique that involves halting all body motion often in an interesting or balance-intensive position Names for each vary in different local lindy hop scenes, though most have historic names associated with their creators or people in the community of the day. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927
Groups
In swing dance or Lindy Hop communities today, both solo 20s Charleston and solo swinging Charleston are often danced in groups arranged in a loose circle on the social dance floor, in two long lines of facing dancers (evenly spaced) or in other formations in more strictly choreographed performances. The term " swing dance " commonly refers to a group of dances that developed concurrently with the swing style of Jazz music in the 1920s '30s and '40s although Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 Social dance is a major category or classification of Danceforms or dance styles where sociability and socializing are the primary focuses of the dancing
They may choose to follow steps 'called' either by a designated caller or by each dancer in turn. In this called context, the group perform the same step for a Phrase (music), or until the new step is "called". In Music a phrase ( Greek φράση, sentence expression, see also Strophe) is a section of music that is relatively Individual dancers often improvise within the structure of the called step, bringing their own personal "flavour".
There are many local variations on this group dancing, including the following. One person will typically call out a variation (such as turning 360 degrees in place on counts 5-8), which is then done by everyone beginning the next measure and again for the following 2 measures. In Musical notation, a bar or measure is a segment of time defined as a given number of beats of a given duration If the caller doesn't call another step immediately, the dancers return to the (default) basic step. Switching sides is sometimes called, upon which the dancers hop on the left foot across to the other side on counts 5-8, turning 180 degrees to the left.
In the more casual social group context, individual dancers may choose to dance "alone", improvising in response to the music or copying dancers around them.
Tap Charleston
Tap Charleston (1925 to 1926): Leonard Reed was said to have invented Tap Charleston after he learned tap in 1925. Tap Charleston was the Charleston with breaks into open position to do tap steps. The connection between Breakaway and Tap Charleston is murky. From 1919 to 1927 Breakaway was a popular Swing dance developed from the Texas Tommy and Charleston in Harlem 's African American It could be the same thing attributed to Leonard Reed or something else.
Depictions in media
- In the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life, the dance competition features the Charleston. It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Film produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story " The Greatest George Bailey and Mary Hatch (played by James Stewart and Donna Reed) are featured. James Maitland Stewart (20 May 1908 – 2 July 1997 popularly known as Jimmy Stewart, was an American Film and stage Actor Donna Reed ( January 27, 1921 - January 14, 1986) was an Academy Award -winning American actress.
- The Charleston features prominently in the 2001 film, The Cat's Meow, starring Kirsten Dunst as Marion Davies. The Cat's Meow is a Drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich. Kirsten Caroline Dunst (born April 30 1982 is an American actress and singer Marion Davies ( January 3, 1897 &ndash September 22, 1961) was an American film Actress.
- In the 1995 video game Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Cyrax performs a Charleston in his Friendship. A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 is a Fighting game in the Mortal Kombat series released in arcades in 1995 Cyrax is a Fictional character in the Mortal Kombat series About Cyrax Making his debut in Mortal Kombat 3, In the Mortal Kombat series of Fighting games, a Fatality is a special Finishing move that can be used against one's opponent at the end
- Part of Kid 'n Play's signature dance move, The Kid 'n Play Kickstep involves many of the Charleston's dance steps. Kid 'n Play was a hip-hop and Comedy duo from New York City that was popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s The lyrics of the song "Do The Kid 'n Play Kickstep" from Kid 'n Play's 2 Hype LP outlines the Kickstep's moves and mentions the Charleston by name.
Footnotes
See also
External links
Compilation of charleston videos by BrotherSwing
Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic