The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #3710 Message #2744310
Posted By: Genie
12-Oct-09 - 02:39 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Irish Jubilee (Thornton, Lawler)
Subject: What is "the pigeon wing" dance?
Martin, here is some info on the Pigeon Wing dance. http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3buckw1.htm
It's related to the "buck dance" and the Charleston.
I think it's one of those dances that derived from dances done by slaves in the US south and later incorporated into mistrel shows that tried to capitalize on African-American songs and dances.
I haven't found any videos of it, but I believe the dance was so called because it involved 'flapping' the arms while thrusting the head forward and back, kind of like pigeons do when they walk. At least I've seen that kind of movement in some of the dances that hark back to the minstrel shows.