How to Dance Like a Flapper Girl

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When the Great Gatsby hit the big screen in 2013, many in the American public took another look at the history of the flappers as a result of the movie.  As a result, you will find a number of videos on Youtube published around May of 2013 that demonstrate the popular dance moves of the flapper era.  Here is one of those videos that you can use to get you ready for Halloween if you wish to wear a flapper costume:

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RsLhlPObaA”][td_text_with_title custom_title=”Popular Dances in the 1920s”]

The Charleston – The most popular dance move of the flappers in the Roaring Twenties.  The song became popular as a result of its role in the Broadway show Runnin’ Wild in 1923.  The dance involved the flapping of one’s arms in a manner that resembled the flapping of a bird’s wings.  Prior to this dance, movement of the arms while dancing was rare.

Jazz hands was a popular dance move during the era where the individual extended their arms with palms facing foward and fingers splayed, before a rapid and fluttering shaking of the hands.  It’s biggest proponent was Bob Fousse, who used it in his music choreography for film and Broadway.

Foxtrot – This ballroom dance similar to the waltz became the most popular dance of the 1920s.  Named after its inventor, Harry Fox, it was one of the dances in the reportoire of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.  In order to create the trot, dancers take long steps during the slow music and short steps during fast music.

Tango – This classic, sexy dance which originated in Argentine was brought to middle-class America in the 1920 by Carlos Gardel, a singer and actor who died tragically in a plane crash in the 1930s.

Shimmy – A dance involving the shaking of the chest and torso that became popular in the 1910s and 1920s.  Its popularity has been credited to Gilda Grey, who reportedly did the Shimmy when she forgot the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner in 1919.

The Cake Walk – Although the popularity of this dance was waning by the 1920s, it nevertheless influenced the modern dances of the era.  Originating in Florida, it became popular around the turn of the Century and experienced a resurgence in 1915.   The dance parodied the promenade of high society, which was composed at that time entirely of white Americans.[/td_text_with_title][td_text_with_title custom_title=”Popular Music”]

Jazz spread throughout the nation in the 1920s on radio and phonograph records.  From its roots in New Orleans, it became a dance hall favorite.

Ragtime was the musical genre that became popular in the 1890s and gave way to jazz in the 1920s.  It ‘s march tempo piano pieces were an important influence on the development of jazz.  Missouri was the center of ragtime.

Charleston – The song that became a hit in 1923 and was the basis for the popular dance craze.[/td_text_with_title][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSFzLfgKKLI”][/vc_column][/vc_row]