 |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Historical dances are dances that reenact what was danced in times long past, together with music and costumes.
Usually they are danced as performance, but may well be danced for pleasure in the historical dance clubs and societies.
a.k.a. Federalist, Edwardian or early 19th century.
We've only just finished The French Revolution and women's fashions enjoy a very brief period of sensibility. Clothing tends to be light and unrestrictive, encouraging dances with lots of skipping and jumping, such as
Starting with the great international polka craze of 1844 anyone who was anyone was dancing. Women are in hoop skirts, and turning dances help to keep the skirts out of the way.
All the same dances that were done in the mid century are still being done in the late century, but by fewer people and with less enthusiasm. Dance masters, in a vain attempt to maintain their place in society and in the economy, invent dances of greater and greater complexity.
The bustle replaces the hoop, which necessitates a few changes in dancing style.
At the same time, Ragtime music begins its infiltration.
Vernon and Irene Castle bring an air of respectability to couple dancing, and spark what was arguably the largest U.S. dance craze ever. By the end of WWI people eshew these as old fashioned.
It's the roaring twenties, and kids are spoiled. For the first time, there is a class of children who don't have to immediately go to work to support the family. This is an era of highly energetic dances done by the younger generation.
More than ever before, white society is getting its dances from black society. Swing music and swing dancing are what's happening
|
||||
| View Live Article | This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License | |
||
