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Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances
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Subject: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:01 PM This thread is dedicated to the dances you know-traditional folk dances, other secular dances, and/or religious dances. I'm particularly interested in the continuity and changes that may have occurred in social dances, and what these might mean. One special interest I have is what I call 'instruction dance songs'. In these dance songs a singer calls out the dance steps for the dancers to follow. I'm also interested in dance songs that mention the names of specific dances or dance steps. In this thread I'll posts examples from these sub-genre of African American dance songs which were composed from at least the late 19th century to the early 21st century. However, I'm also interested in learning more about your dance traditions and your current dances. You can join in this exploration by *listing the names of dances you know how to do or have seen done *posting lyrics to a specific dance song or songs *posting any memories you associate with a specific dance or dances *posting instructions on how to do a specific dance *posting your thoughts on the history or psycho-social meaning of dances in general or of a specific dance *posting links to online articles about dance and/or sharing information about other resources on this subject *posting links to YouTube or other dance videos So let's get jiggy with it. Let's shake our money maker. Let's bust a move and let it all hang out. Thanks in advance for your posts to this thread! |
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Subject: Lyr Add: JONAH'S BAND PARTY From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:15 PM JONAH'S BAND PARTY Setch a kickin' up san' Jonah's Band! Setch a kickin' up san'! Jonah's Band! "Han's up sixteen! Circle to the right! We're going to get big eatin's here tonight". Setch a kickin' up san'! Jonah's Band! Setch a kickin' up san'! Jonah's Band! "Raise your foot, kick it up high, Knock dat *Mobile Buck in the eye." Setch a kickin' up san'! Jonah's Band! Setch a kickin' up san'! Jonah's Band! "Stand up flat foot. *Jump dem bars! *Karo bac'ards. Like a train o' kyars." Setch a kickin' up san'! Jonah's Band! Setch a kickin' up san'! Jonah's Band! "Dance round , Mistiss, show'em de p'int; Dat N----r don't know how to *Coonjaint." -snip- Thomas W. Talley, "Negro Folk Songs" {Kennikat Press Edition, 1968, p. 1; originally published in 1922} Talley notes that the words prefaced by an * are dance steps. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Peace Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:15 PM Who could forget . . . . I have no memories of this dance or song. The melody was terrible and so were the words. I learned how to cringe and leave the room when it came on people's radios. I know no one personally who owns the record or thinks it's a good song or dance. This is gonna be another winner of a thread. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: JUMP JIM CROW From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:21 PM JUMP JIM CROW Git fus on yo' heel, An den upon yo' toe; And ebry time you tu'n 'round, You jump Jim Crow. Now fall upon yo' knees. Jump up an' bow low; An' ebry time you tu'n 'round, You jump Jim Crow. Put yo' han's upon yo' hips, Bow low to yo' beau; An' ebry time you tu'n 'round, You jump Jim Crow. -snip- Thomas W. Talley, "Negro Folk Songs" {Kennikat Press Edition, 1968, p. 13; originally published in 1922} |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Peace Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:26 PM "The hora is frequently danced at Jewish weddings and bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs. Instructions STEP 1: Stand in a circle holding the hands of the people on either side of you. STEP 2: When the music starts, follow the circle as it rotates. STEP 3: Step to the side, passing your left foot behind your right. STEP 4: Move the right foot beside the left foot. STEP 5: Step to the side again, passing your left foot in front of your right this time. STEP 6: Continue as the circle keeps spinning, adding a little hop to your steps as you go faster. STEP 7: Move toward the center of the circle and throw your hands, still holding those of the people beside you, in the air. STEP 8: Lower your hands and move backward. STEP 9: Repeat several times. STEP 10: Resume spinning around the circle." From here. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:28 PM Well, I'll beat that song with this one: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/bunnyhop.htm Warning! Warning! The midi keeps playing and playing and playing... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:30 PM My 22 Feb 07 - 08:28 PM post referred to Peace's 22 Feb 07 - 08:15 PM post. Thanks, Peace for your additions to this thread! |
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Subject: Lyr Add: LAND OF 1000 DANCES (Wilson Pickett) From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:34 PM Land of of 1000 Dances Wilson Pickett 1-2-3 1-2-3 Ow! Uh! Alright! Uh! Got to know how to pony Like Bony Maronie Mash potato, do the alligator Put your hand on your hips, yeah Let your backbone slip Do the Watusi Like my little Lucy Hey! Uh! Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na I need somebody to help me say it one time (Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na ) Wo--ow! < Saxophone solo> Wow! Uh! You know I feel alright! Huh! I feel pretty good y'all Uh! Huh! Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na Come on y'all, let's say it one more time (Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na ) Ooow! Playing, it is a habit With long tall Sally Twistin' with Lucy Doin' the Watusi Roll over on your back I like it like that Do that Jerk-uh Watch me work y'all Ow! Do it! Wow! Do it! Just watch me do it Aah help me Aah help me Aah help me Aah help me < Fade> -snip- From various sources including http://www.songlyrics.com/song-lyrics/Pickett_Wilson/Miscellaneous/Land_Of_1000_Dances/67680.html |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Peace Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:39 PM OK, Azizi, HOW could this thread have gone to eight posts without ANY mention of this (it's on youtube). It rhymes with list and dissed and wrist and . . . |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:43 PM Excerpt from "The Mississippi Cha Cha Slide" Right foot stomp Left foot stomp You cha cha with your right You cha cha with your left You turn to the right And move to the left Back it up! ... and jump! http://www.madmanmike.com/stomp_m-slide.html Also see these comments from that website: "Don't Be Confused Stomp 2007: The Mississippi Cha Cha Slide ... is NOT "The Cha-Cha Slide" [also called the Casper Cha-Cha Slide or Casper Slide] is NOT "Stomp!!!" by Red Rum featuring Mixx Master Lee & Dude Nem [© 2000] They are three different songs (Madman Mike owns all three CDs) Stomp 2007 is not the Casper Cha-Cha Slide (which came out in 2000), but it is a SIMILAR TYPE of song. That means it's an all-ages line dance that most people can do. It's a party song with a catchy funky beat and becoming the newest group participation dance for clubs, bars, house parties, school dances, festivals, wedding receptions, etc." ** Also see these posts from http://onehitwondercentral.com/forum/thread.cfm?threadid=984 about that song: Subject: Mississippi Slide? Date: 01-29-2003 Author: Keifer "Has anyone heard of this new Mississipi Electric Slide? I sounds like the Cha Cha slide...but it's a little bit different. (the guy calling out the steps sounds like James Brown) * Subject: RE: Mississippi Slide? Date: 07-07-2003 Author: marjorie Reply I AM LOOKING FOR THE SAME THING . WHERE I CAN FINE THIS SONG AND WHO SING IT. MOVE TO THE RIGHT MOVE TO THE LEFT NOW!!BACK UP AND JUMP. CHA WITH THE RIGHT AND CHA CHA WITH THE LEFT ...REPEAT HELP,,,,,I LOVE THIS DANCE * Subject: RE: Mississippi Slide? Date: 08-05-2003 Author: beverly james- goleta,ca Reply Barbara, the official name is the Cha-cha Mississippi Slide by DJ Slide. Hope you can find it ... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: GUEST,Nick Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:45 PM As is common with the culture of my people, I put my right foot, I put my right foot out. Then I went into a vision trance, and was forced to put down the serpent I was juggling, and so lost my focus, perhaps others from my tribe can fill in the gaps. Nick |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:49 PM Hey, the joint is jumpin! We've gone from the mid to late 19th century to the late 20th century to the early 21st century and there's more coming where they came from. Does no one but Peace and me wanna join this hulaballo? Come on in! The water's fine... Water?? Well, you know what I mean... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:53 PM Hello, Nick! You and your serpent are welcome! Though don't be surprised if people start screaming when they see you do your snake dance or when they see the snake... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:59 PM Here's two links to the YouTube videos of Mississippi Cha Cha Slide: Mississippi Cha Cha Slide Aka Stomp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMW0TMlA3_0 Added October 14, 2006 ;From ptee "web promo for alpine Records and Mixx Master Lee "Stomp" aka Cha-Cha Slide Download the song @ AlpineRecords.com " ** mississipi cha cha slide http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v89vqJ7cGzo&NR Added December 27, 2006 ; From imaqtee1 "mississippi cha cha slide- black people/folks line dance" |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE STROLL (from The Diamonds) From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 09:02 PM THE STROLL Artist: Diamonds Lyrics Come, let's stroll Stroll across the floor Come, let's stro-oh-oh-oll Stroll across the floor Now turn around, baby Let's stroll once more Feel so good Take me by my hand I feel so goo-ooh-ooh-ood Take me by my hand And let's go strolling In wonderland Strollin', , strollin' aah-huh-uh Rock and ro-uh-oh-oh-oh-oh-llin' Strollin' Well rock my so-oul How I love to stroll There's my love Strolling in the door There's my lo-o-o-ove Strolling in the door Baby, let's go strolling By the candy store http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/beautifulgirls/thestroll.htm |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 09:06 PM Here's an excerpt from http://www.jitterbuzz.com/dance50.html about the dance called "The Stroll" "The stroll is the classic line dance of the 1950's. It is performed to slow swing and rhythm and blues The stroll is popular throughout the swing scene in Europe (strange as it's an American dance). Less danced in the US, it's addictive so that this will soon change, especially if Ellen and Marc have anything to do with it.... You can stroll to loads of swing music, popular choices include - On Revival Day (Lavern Baker), Lavender Coffin (Lionel Hampton) and My Baby Just Cares For Me (Nina Simone). Strolling is also part ofthe film American Graffiti (George Lucas), with the eponympous song The Stroll by The Diamonds. Origins The stroll is done in two parallell lines (leads on one side, follows across the divide.) A simple basic step-pattern is performed in such a fashion that the line advances, or moves one pace with each pattern. Individuals on each end pair up and perform a "shine" routine as they proceed down the line; at the end, they separate and rejoin the lines. This formulation is part of many "contra" dances that were done in the US and Europe for centures. Thus, in one sense, the Stroll has been with us for a long time. The emergence of the Stroll as a recognizable dance is due in large part to American Bandstand, a popular televised dance party that began in 1954. Initially, the show's regulars created the popular dance called the Bunny Hop. Following this success, the kids began churning out new dances for every new beat, including The Stroll, a slow, simple dance, where two lines - boys on one side, girls on the other - faced each other, shifting from left to right, then back again. The fun came when the couple met in the middle to strut down the aisle, all eyes on them. The dance was inspired by Chuck Willis' hit C.C. Rider. It became so popular that Willis was dubbed "King of the Stroll." But the dance soon got a song of its own when Dick Clark suggested to the Diamonds that they create a song specifically for the dance. The Diamonds hot with their hit Lil Darlin' (1957), struck gold again with The Stroll --- famous for its opening line,"Come, let's Stroll."..." |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 09:15 PM Bubbling Brown Sugar -Stroll http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvTnvWuc3Ss Added April 25, 2006;From camcroft 20th Anniversary European touring com... 20th Anniversary European touring company of Broadway Musical Bubbling Brown Sugar performing the Stroll.directed and choreographed by Billy Wilson |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 22 Feb 07 - 09:43 PM As somewhat of an aside, the term "stroll" has become a referent for distinctive group processional strutting and dancing that members of specific fraternities and sororities perform. This movememt activity used to be called 'party walks' as it was {and still is} performed at social parties, usually to a recorded popular R&B or Hip-Hop music. Strolls {party walks} are also performed at the conclusion of the group's competitive step performance. Members usually incorporate their group's hand gestures and calls into their party walk. Here's a couple of examples of sorority party walks. AKA - The Black Student Union Yard Show Fall 2006 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d15cAKtZQFM&NR Added October 06, 2006; From yoshie4u2 "The Ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha at the Black Student Union Yard Show Fall 2006" and Delta Sigma Theta http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpdUxebG46M&mode=related&search= Added April 19, 2006 ;From Latisha1903 "Eta Beta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. Prairie View A&M University" ** Note: The first video showcases a chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc {also known as AKA's}. Fwiw, I'm a {very inactive} member of this national/international [predominately] Black Greek letter sorority. When I pledged AKA in 1967 I was told that AKAs stood for "finer womanhood". AKA's are also known as pretty girls {I'm just sayin...} You can see this image reflected in the stroll and step movements that this group performs. ** For more information about stepping and strolls, you can visit these pages of my website: http://www.cocojams.com/fraternity_and_sorority_chants.htm and http://www.cocojams.com/internet_links_to_steppin.htm |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Scrump Date: 23 Feb 07 - 06:24 AM Don't forget these dance craze records (some of these 'crazes' didn't really become a craze at all though): The Locomotion (Goffin/King) - Little Eva (and a lot later covered by Kylie Minogue) Do The Bird - Dee Dee Sharp (IIRC?) (covered by the Vernons Girls in UK) Mashed Potato Time - Dee Dee Sharp Gravy (for my mashed potatoes) - Dee Dee Sharp Wah-Watusi - Orlons Do the Dog - Georgie Fame did this in th UK - who did the original? Walkin' the Dog - Rufus Thomas (and Rolling Stones cover) Songs about The Monkey: Monkey Time - Major Lance Mickey's Monkey - Miracles (and more) Can Your Monkey Do The Dog - Rufus Thomas Funky Chicken - Rufus Thomas Lots by Chubby Checker: Pony Time The Twist Let's Twist Again The Hucklebuck Limbo Rock Let's Limbo Some More The Fly etc. etc. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 10:22 AM For the 'record', since I've been posting on Mudcat, I've started 3 other threads on dances/dance songs. Those threads are: Folklore: The Cake-Walk & Other Plantation Dances thread.cfm?threadid=80680#1467704 First post Azizi 27 Apr 05 - 08:58 AM; last post Barry Finn 25 Mar 06 - 03:50 PM ** Dances Known And Unknown thread.cfm?threadid=77864#1393134 First post; Azizi 30 Jan 05 - 08:50 AM; last post: Azizi - PM 30 Nov 06 - 08:25 AM ** Dance to the music thread.cfm?threadid=82051#1853553 First post Azizi June 15, 2005; Last post 09 Oct 06 - 07:42 PM -snip- There is no difference in my intent and in general subject matter between the "Dance To The Music","Dances Known And Unknown", and this thread "Thread of 1000 dances". I confess that I've never liked the titles of those other threads, and prefer this title. That said, I also confess that I didn't check the Mudcat search engine and/or my posting history before yielding to the urge to start this thread. If I had checked those listings, I may still have started this thread, but would have linked to those previous threads as resources as I am doing now. Since I perfer the title of this thread, any subsequent posting that I make about general or specific dance history,types. or styles, I will post to this thread. Because I was relatively new to Mudcat posting in April 2005 when I started the Cakewalk and Plantation thread, I wasn't aware that Animaterra had started a thread on Juba on 01 Feb 99 - 08:27 PM. The last post to that thread is by Ole Bull on 02 Feb 99 - 04:40 PM. Here's the link to that thread: thread.cfm?threadid=8972#56823 I'll add some information about the Juba dance to that thread that I've posted on other threads. For those interested in the general subject of dance history and/or the "sociology" of dance, I believe that the Juba thread whose link I've provided should be seen as a companion thread to this thread. The other threads whose links I provided in this post should also be seen as companion threads to this thread. And, I'm sure, there are a host of other Mudcat threads on this subject that I have not started and posts on this subject that I have not written. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 10:50 AM Also for those interested in this subject, I'd like to call your attention to these posts that I wrote about the possible religious/sociological meanings of the Caribbean limbo dance: thread.cfm?threadid=82051#1853580 and thread.cfm?threadid=82051#1853553 |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 10:59 AM Someone pm'd me this link to "Wold Mudic Central-International Dance Glossary & Dance Forms" for posting in this thread: http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/staticpages/index.php/glossary Here's some excerpts from those pages. "Clogging - Welsh step dancing. It is the only type of Welsh dance, which has continued, in an unbroken tradition. During the 18th and 19th centuries the puritanical revivals in Wales almost wiped out many forms of folk culture, and especially traditional dance. However the popularity of clogging's combination of infectious rhythms with dynamic style kept this traditional alive and it continues to thrive and evolve. The main difference between Welsh clogging and other Celtic and American styles of solo percussive dance, is that Welsh dancers wear wooden clogs, and not merely hard shoes. The sole and heel of a Welsh clog are carved from one piece of wood, to form a shaped "platform"under the whole foot, onto which the leather upper is fixed, giving it the appearance of a normal shoe. However the sole does not bend, creating different movements for the feet, and different possibilities for percussive additions to the music. Like American clogging, the Welsh include a variety of energetic "feats"or "tricks", and each clogger is eager to show off his own dexterity and inventiveness. Welsh clogging commonly includes steps such as a Coassack-style kicking squat (called the "Toby"), or high jumping, jumping over a bezum broom, or even trying to snuff out a lighted candle with his feet during the dance. Compas - Haitian dance music Conga - An Afro-Cuban dance, now popular in many Spanish speaking countries, characterized by hard beats in 2/4 time. The Conga is performed in a formation known as the Conga chain. The steps are simple, one, two, three, and kick at which time the partners move away from each other. Conga - Country dance - English folk dances as opposed to the court dances of bygone times. During the colonial days of America these country dances became the present day square dance. Country western two-step - The two-step originated in the United states in the 1800's by people who arrived from Europe. It was an offspring of the minuet. In the old Western days when women were not allowed to dance with men, men danced together and that is the reason for the hand on the shoulder holding a can of beer and the other hand to the side. Csárdás - Hungarian couple dance. Cuadro - Group of flamenco performers, including dancers, singers, and guitarists Cueca - 1. Bolivian flirting dance. It is slow and sensual. 2. Chilean dance written in 6/8 time with the accompaniment in 3/4 time. Originally it was danced with handkerchiefs only, but during recent years it has enjoyed popularity on the ballroom floor. Cumbia - Colombian music and dance form, fusion of Andean Indian, African and European musical styles. It consist of short steps and sensual hip movements that originally was a form of flirting. The women used to flirt by waving their long skirts and the men demonstrated their strength by waving their huge machetes in the air. It has become one of the most popular musical styles in Colombia (together with salsa and champeta) and Mexico. Dance ronde - Breton dance tune. Dandia (Sticks dance) – This is a folk dance form of Gujarat State situated in the Western part of India. Dandia dance is performed by a group who move in circles to measure steps, making time by sticks called dandia. The sticks of the dance represent the sword of Durga. The performers wear traditional dresses such as colorful embroidered choli, ghagra and bandhani dupattas dazzling with mirror work and heavy jewellery (Description courtesy of Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts, India)." -snip- Much of this information seems to be very detailed. It would be interesting to find out how accurate this information is. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 11:23 AM Btw, thanks, Scrump for posting those dance names to this thread. If we count those dances you listed, including the individual dance names that were mentioned in the "Jonah's Band" song, but excluding the dances from that excerpt I posted from the World Dance Central glossary of dance names {since they may be a composite of different dances}, I've counted the following dances that were listed on this thread so far: 1.Mobile Buck 2.Skinning {killing} The Cat 3.Coonjaint 4.Juba 5.Jump Jim Crow 6.The Cakewalk 7.The Alligator 8.The Jerk 9.The Cha Cha 10.The Cha Cha Slide 11.The Stroll {excluding the fraternity/sorority party walks] 12.The Hokey Pokey 13.The Bunny Hop 14.The Locomotion 15.The Bird 16.Mashed Potato 17.The Monkey 18.The Watusi 19.The Dog 20.Walkin' the Dog {assuming that this is different from "The Dog" 21.Funky Chicken 22.The Pony 23.The Twist 24.The Hucklebuck 25.The Limbo 26.Limbo Rock {assuming that this isn't the same as the limbo} 27.The Fly ** Well, that means only 973 more dance names to go on this list to get to 1000 dances! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 11:42 AM Hmmm,I see that I hadn't actually mentioned the Juba dance in this thread, but just referred to a thread on the Juba. So to rectify that, I'm going to take the liberty of reposting a comment from that thread whose link I've already provided: Subject: RE: Juba From: Steve Parkes - PM Date: 02 Feb 99 - 04:04 AM I've got a 78 disc from the thirties (belonged to my granddad) by, I think, Jack Hylton. JH had a British swing band. The other side is Organ grinder's swing.The Juba in the song is a dance, The words, as far as I can remember: When the folks up in Harlem do the Juba They tap their feet like the rhumba down in Cuba Hi-de-hi! Lo-de-lo! But when the folks up in Harlem do the Juba You get a rhythm you never hear in Cuba. Hi-de-hi! Lo-de-lo! [...] Even old peanut vendors come from Cuba To hear the folks up in Harlem do the Juba It's actually in a rhumba rhythm, despite claims to the contrary; the old-fashooned rhumba, that is: it's a sort of syncopated 8/8 time, 3/8 + 3/8 + 2/8 - it sounds like 9/8 with a beat missing. I keep meaning to try slipping it into a slip jig. Steve -snip- So, in addition to the Juba reference, that comment also gives us 28. The Rhumba |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 12:30 PM If I cheat a bit and add the dance names that are mentioned in the Dance To The Music thread, the list of dance names would include: *29. waltzes *30."the 'Barn Dance'{as , this is "done to schottische and march tunes by large circles where couples would form for only 16 bars and then separate}" *31.Gay Gordons *32.Highland Schottische *33.Evening Three Step *34.Military Two Step *35.Gypsy Tap *36.Charmaine *37.Foxtrot *38.Quickstep *39.The Lancers {described as a quadrille} *40.The First Set {decribed as a quadrille} 41.Morris Dancing {from reading other Mudcat threads, I gather that there are many different types of Morris dances; and I'm sure the same goes for the other general dance names I'll list or have already listed} 42. Ballet 43. Contradanza; Country dance {I'm not sure if these are general or specific dance names} 44. Broom Dance 45. The Mazurka 46. The Polka 47.The Schottische {already mentioned in #32, but there's also this quote given in that thread- "The highland (or Balmoral) schottische was a later (1880) Scottish invention and the military schottische is American." so maybe this referent was to the the American one ?? 48.The Tango 49. The Cha Cha 50.The Hitch Hike 51 The Football 52.The Electric Slide 53.The Bump 54.The Running Man 55.The Snake 56.The Harum Scarum 57.The Lesghinka 58.The Dabkah 59.The Swim 60.The Philly 61. The Philly Dog {which apprently was different than The Philly or The Dog} 62.The Duck 63.The Freddy 64.The Lindy Hop 65. The Jitterbug 66.The Texas Tommy 67.The Hop {which I assume is different than the Lindy Hop ??} 67.The Breakaway 68.Tap Dancing There was also mention of reels and jigs and I suppose they could be given #69 and #70 though I gather these are general categories of dances and not specific dance names. In addition, there was mention on that thread of "swing dances" and "ballroom dances". I think "ballroom dances" may be tooo general a category to include in this list. I also think that "swing dances" is a general category that seems to me to be an updated reference for jitterbug dance such as the Lindy Hop. So I'm mentioning "swing" but I've decided not to give it a specific number. So, according to my calculation, so far 70 dances are listed on this thread of 1000 dances. So there's 930 dances more to go! [* are from Rowan's 09 Oct 06 - 02:46 AM postto the Dance to The Music thread; I may have confused the general dance terms he listed with specific dances or vice versa] |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:00 PM So, since I already cheated by adding the names of dances mentioned on a previous Mudcat dance thread that I started,I might as well cheat again. Here's some additional dances that were mentioned on the Dances Known And Unknown thread: 71.The Grind 72.The Samba 73.The March of The Mods 74.La Yenka 75.The Macarena 76. Square dances {there are a number of posts in that thread about Square dancing} 77.The Madison 78.Knees Up Mother Brown {there are a number of posts in that thread about this song/dance} 79.Gay Gordons 80 Moshing {is this a step or a dance name?} 81. Teddy Bears' Picnic {I'm aware that this is a song, but is it also a specific dance?} 82.The Creep 83.The Palais Glide 84.The Floral Dance (or Furry Dance) 85.Sardanas 86.Kalamatianos 85. Okey Cokey {listed here with the assumption that this may be different from #12, The Hokey Pokey; btw are both of these dances as well as children's games?} 86. Charleston 87.The Buzzard Lope {this may have been a religious dance} 88.Bamboule 89.The Pigeon Wing 90.The Buck & Wing 91.The Conga 92.Chicken Noodle Soup 93.The Jive {which I'm assuming is different than handjive ??; Btw, I'm assuming that "handjive" is a referent for handclapping that I think has been retired since at least the early 1960s among African Americans} 94.The Strathspey -snip- This list may have mixed up general dances with specific dance steps. This list may also have left off specific dance steps or other dances that were mentioned. Please feel free to add to this list or comment about the dances {dance steps} mentioned on this list. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:31 PM Corrections: "Wold Mudic Central"= World Music Central. Sorry about that. Also, I counted Cha Cha two times. So, according to my counting, this thread now has 93 names of dances, which means it has 907 dance names to go. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SHOTGUN (Junior Walker and The All Stars) From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 02:52 PM Here's a R&B song that is definitely not politically correct now: SHOTGUN [Junior Walker and The All Stars] I said,Shotgun shoot em for he runs now Do the jerk baby Do the jerk now Hey! Put on your red dress And then you go downtown now I said buy yourself a shotgun now We're gonna break it down baby now We're gonna load it up baby now And then you shoot him for he runs now I said,Shotgun shoot em for he runs now Do the jerk baby Do the jerk now Hey! [Instrumental sax] I said,Shotgun shoot em for he runs now Do the jerk baby Do the jerk now Hey! Put on your high heels shoes I said we're goin' down here listen to em play blues We're gonna dig potatoes We're gonna pick tomatoes I said,Shotgun shoot em for he runs now Do the jerk baby Do the jerk now Hey! I said it's Twine Time I said it's Twine Time I said it's Twine Time Hey! http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/jr_walker_and_the_all_stars/shotgun.html -snip- Regardless of its un-political correctness, the 1967 dance "Shot Gun" is #94 in this listing. ** Jr. Walker and the All Star's mention of "Twine Time" at the end of the Shot Gun song probably was a referent to "Alvin Cash and the Crawlers's funky tune, "Twine Time," on the Mar-V-lus label (3094), issued September 12, 1963" [as noted in http://www.csus.edu/indiv/v/vonmeierk/7-02TWI.html, an article about rope or twine]. Btw, the word "twine" rhymes with "fine". Since Junior {or is it Jr.?} Walker used "Twine Time" like a dance name, I'm gonna do the same. Therefore, "Twine Time" is #95 on this list of dance names. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 03:18 PM Here's an excerpt from http://caribbean-guide.info/arts.and.entertainment/dance/ Caribbean Dance-Rhythm And Moves "Many say that no matter where you turn in the Caribbean, you will hear music. Each island has its own particular rhythms, but the result is the same: dance. Some of these styles fuse to become new styles, but many of their basic elements remain the same. Latin Beats Mambo was popularized in nightclubs in Havana, Cuba, in the mid-1900s and was brought to the U.S. via Harlem. However, mambo evolved into the sexy dance style known as salsa when it was taken from the ballrooms and the dance floors to the streets. It combines many Afro-Caribbean elements but remains essentially faithful to the mambo. The Dominican Republic and Haiti brought merengue to dance floors, but there are two different stories about the development of this dance. The first tells the story of a war hero returning from battle with an injured leg, limping and dragging one leg as he danced, all of the people at the victory celebration felt obliged to imitate his dance out of sympathy. The other story says it began with chained slaves, who were forced to drag their heavy foot along as they cut sugar to the beat of a drum. Using a rhythm that is favored throughout the Caribbean, the merengue is an easy dance to learn for those who want to have a bit of Latin flair in their dance while on vacation. It's also well-suited to small, crowded dance floors since it does not require much room. Bachata combines merengue with the romantic bolero style. The rumba, originally a slow dance, has become even slower over time. It is another very sexy dance, and one where the pattern is very small and good for crowded dance floors. Meanwhile the cha cha is a mid-tempo dance, a variant between the rumba and the mambo. French Rhythms Zouk is a form of dance and music in the French Caribbean descended from the Brazilian lambada. From the word "party" in French Creole, zouk has been described as a lighter version of the lambada, whose music combines reggae, salsa, and merengue with a fast beat. The beguine is a dance also adapted in Guadeloupe and Martinique, though it began as a slow rumba. This slow, close dance gained popularity in major part due to a song written about the dance by Cole Porter. Music and Dance Throughout the Caribbean, music and dance go hand-in-hand. This is particularly true when it comes to new and popular dance styles. Dances are often named for the music or song that they resulted from. On Jamaica, dancehall music often inspires new styles, and these styles can change as quickly as the popular music itself. These are usually named by the song, but songs themselves call out new dance moves". |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 03:23 PM On with the list! 96.Mambo 97.Salsa 98.The Merengue 99.Zouk 100.The Lambada -snip- Did I omit any? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Scoville Date: 24 Feb 07 - 03:40 PM The notorious Chicken Dance. The rockabilly doll in the ponytails is one of Myron Florens' granddaughters. Poor thing. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 03:47 PM "On [sic, In??} Jamaica, dancehall music often inspires new styles, and these styles can change as quickly as the popular music itself. These are usually named by the song, but songs themselves call out new dance moves". I've been trying to find some online examples of dancehall reggae songs that where almost totally composed of a caller who speak/sings various movements for dancers to do. My daughter went to Jamaica three years ago and brought back a compilation tape of a number of these uptempo songs. She also showed me how to do the dance moves that she remembered. We also found an online video of dancers doing imitative moves upon the caller's instrutions. However, I can't find the URL to that video and I can't think of the names of any of those songs at this time. I'll have to check with my daughter. I recall that with several of the songs, the caller instructed dancers to do such imitative moves as "rain fall" {in which dancers move their fingers of both hands to imitate rain coming down"; "umbrella" {in which dancers hold their right arm straight up as if they are holding up an umbrella; "lightning" {in which dancers slap their right hand hard with their left hand}; "shelly belly" {in which dancers do a pelvis thrust movement; "lawn motor" {in which dancers pretend to be mowing their lawn}, and many many more imitative moves all of which are done while dancing to the song's beat. I also recall a couple of these songs in which the caller said "Sponge Bob" {referring to the cartoon character "Sponge Bob Square Pants"}, though my daughter said she couldn't recall how to do that particular dance {step}. The only online example of these types of instuction dancehall reggae songs that I could immediately find is Elephant Man's Pon Di River (Pon Di Bank) PON DI RIVER {PON DI BANK} [Chorus ] I've Seen Nuff Dance Before But I've Never Seen A Dance Like This I've Seen Nuff Dance Before But A Dah One Yah Come Top Di List [Verse 1] A'right Real Badman Nuh Wear People Pants We Tek Dancing To A Higher Rank We Spen' Pound, An Wi Spen Frank John Have A New Dance A Lock Jamaican An' BronX Pon Di River Pon Di Bank Kick Out Yuh Shoes Because Yuh Foot Dem Nuh Cramp Inna Di River Pan Di Bank.. http://www.tsrocks.com/e/elephant_man_texts/pon_di_river_pon_di_bank.html -snip- I'm assuming that on the lyrics "pon di river/pon di bank" the dancers jump back and forth... I make this assumption because this song reminds me of a game that I remember from my childhood that I have taught to children, teens, and adults in the Pittsburgh, PA area. {I should note that this game did not appear to be known in this area prior to my introducing it}. I learned this game when I was a child attending Vacation Bible School {Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1950s}. A Vacation Bible school teacher, Ms. Janie Mae Owens, taught the students this "Simon Says" type game called "In The River/On The Bank". I remember that she said she learned this game when she was a child in North Carolina. Here's how the game is played: Players stand behind a horizontal line {usually wide masking tape put on the floor}. A designated caller explains that this is a game to test the players mental alertness. The caller is going to try to trick them. The caller explains that she or he is standing in the river, and that the players are on the river bank. {I always add some words about safety,that no one should play near the river bank; also that this game should not be played from the curb to the street}. When the caller says "In the river", the players must jump forward. When the caller says "On the bank", the players must jump back to the river bank. Players who make a mistake are out. The last person remaining in the game is the winner. This person can become the next caller if he or she so chooses, or the previous caller can start the game again. My point in mentioning this game is that I wonder if "In The RIver/On The Bank" has the same source as Elephant Man's river/bank song. I wonder if the game could be traced to Black people from the Caribbean and was kept alive by enslaved African Americans and free African Americans from North Carolina... Perhaps the game is originally from African roots. In any event, this game is one that physically able girls and boys 5 and up [including adults] really enjoy playing. ** For the purposes of this list of dance names, until I find some other way of noting them, I'm gonna add these dance moves this way: 101. Pon di River/Pon di Bank 102. Sponge Bob {and other imitiative dancehall reggae moves}. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: TIGHTEN UP (Archie Bell & the Drells) From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 04:00 PM I've also remembered these dance names 103. The Butt 104. The Robot ** And for a pure de lux example of a R&B instruction dance song, there's Archie Bell & the Drells' 1967? hit song "Tighten Up" TIGHTEN UP Hi everybody I'm Archie Bell of the Drells From Houston, Texas We don't only sing but we dance Just as good as we walk In Houston we just started a new dance Called the Tighten Up This is the music We tighten up with First tighten up on the drums Come on now, drummer I want you to tighten it up for me now Oh, yeah Tighten up on that bass now Tighten it up Ha, ha, yeah Now let that guitar fall in Oh, yeah Tighten up on that organ now Yeah, you do the tighten up Yeah, now I said, if you can do it now It sure would be tough Now look here, come on now Now make it mellow Let's tighten it up now Do the tighten up Everybody can do it now So get to it We're gonna tighten up Let's do the tighten up You can do it now So baby, get to it Look to your left now Look to your right Everybody can do it But don't you get too tight Come on and tighten up Let's tighten it up now Let's tighten it up now Tighten it up Do the tighten up Come and tighten it up Tighten it up now Come on now, Billy Tighten it up Oh, yeah Sock it to me now Tighten it up http://www.metrolyrics.com/lyrics/1543612720/Archie_Bell_&_the_Drells/Tighten_Up -snip- Here's a YouTube video clip of Archie Bell & The Drell's "Tighten Up": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n7C1AyU-9QThe The video is very poor, but you can still get a sense of how the song & the dance goes. And, with regard to the dance name list: 105. Tighten Up |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 04:18 PM Hey, Scoville! Thanks for posting a link to that video! Okay, #106 is The Chicken Dance {which is not the same as the Funky Chicken or Chicken Noddle Soup.} Btw, should "Shake A Tail Feather" also be on this list? Hey, why not? 107. Shake A Tail Feather ** Here's a YouTube video of two guys dancing to one of the Chicken Noodle Soup songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOTy_64e9MA |
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Subject: Lyr Add: DO THE FUNKY CHICKEN (Rufus Thomas) From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 04:24 PM Rufus Thomas' "Funky Chicken" is another good example of an instruction dance. Here's the lyrics to that song: DO THE FUNKY CHICKEN {Rufus Thomas} Y'all come on in now Come right on down front I got something I want to show you Now y'all heard of the Popcorn Y'all heard of the Dog You heard about all your other dances But now there's a brand new dance That's going around I want to show you exactly what I'm talking about I'm talking about the funky chicken, y'all ready? You raise the left arm up and your right arm too Let me tell you just what to do Start both of 'em to flapping You start your feet to kicking That's when you know You doin' the funky chicken You put both arms up across your face You knees start wiggling all over the place You flap your arms and your feet start kicking Then you know you doin' the funky chicken Oh, I'm feeling it now I feel so unnecessary This is the kind This is the kind of stuff To make you feel like you Want to do something nasty Like waste some chicken gravy On your white shirt Right down front here we go y'all You work both arms and you work both feet Use a dab of gravy, you right on the beat You flap your arms And your feet start kicking The you know you doin' the funky chicken And here's a YouTube video of that song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9gO59ooAA8 -snip- And, thanks to those lyrics, here's another dance name that for the list: 108. The Popcorn |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 04:58 PM Here's some information on 18th century onward Afro-Caribbean dances; These dances were also known in the southern USA. CARIBBEAN DANCES Calenda "The dancers were arranged in two lines, facing each other, the men on one side and the woman on the other. Those who are tired of dancing form a circle with the spectators around the dancers and the drums. The ablest person sings a song which he composes on the spot on any subject he considers appropriate. The refrain of this song is sung by everyone and is accompanied by great handclapping. As for the dancers, they hold their arms a little like someone is playing castagnettes. They jump, make swift turns, approach each other to a distance of two or three feet than draw back with the beat of the drum until the sound of the drum brings them back together again to strike their thighs, that is the men's, against the woman's. To see them it would seem that they were striking each other's bellies although it is only the thighs to receive the blows. At the proper time they withdraw a pirouette, only to begin again the same movement with lascivious gestures; this, as many times as the drums give the signal, which is many times in a now. From time to time they lock arms and make several revolutions always slapping their thighs together and kissing each other..." {Pere Labat, "Nouveau Voyage Aux Isles de l'Amerique", translated. by Anthony Bliss (2 vols. The Hague, 1724; 11, 52 quoted in Lynne Fauley Emery, "Black Dance from 1619-to Today" ;second revised edition; Princeton Book Company Edition, 1988, p. 22} "Seventy-five years after Labat, St. Mery wrote this different description of the dance which he called the Kalenda: "One male and one female dancer, or an equal number of dancers of each sex push to the middle of the circle and begin to dance, remaining in pairs. This repetitious dance consists of a very simple step where, as in the "Anglais" one alternately extends each foot and withdraws it, tapping several times with the heel and toe. All one sees is the man spinning himself or twirling around his partner, who, herself, also spins and moves about, unless one is to count the raising and lowering of the arms if the dancers who hold their elbows close to their sides with the hands almost clenched. The woman holds both ends of a kerchief as she rocks from side to side. When one has not witnessed it himself, it is hard to believe how lively and animated it is as well as how the rigorous following of meter gives it such grace. The dancers ceaselessly replace each other, and the blacks derive such pleasure from this entertainment that they must be forced to stop." {De. M.L E Moreau de St-Mery, "Danse", translated by Anthony Bliss (Philadelphia, 1796, 45-46) quoted in Emery, op. cit., p. 23) Chica St. Mery's description of the Chica: "When one wants to dance the Chica, a tune, especially reserved for that type of dance, is played on crude instruments. The beat is very pronounced. For the woman, who hold the ends of her kerchief or the sides of her skirt, the art of this dance consists mainly in moving the lower part of her loins while maintaining the upper part of her body practically immobile. Should one want to enliven the Chica, a man approaches a woman while she is dancing, and, throwing himself forward precipitously, he falls in with the rhythm, almost touching her, drawing back, lunging again, seeming to want to coax her to surrender to the passion which engulfs them. When the Chica reaches its most expressive stage, there is in the gestures and movements of the two dances a harmony that is more easily imagined than described." (St. Mery, op. cit., pp.51-22) Bamboula "The Bamboula dance is named after the baboula, one of the drums used to accompany the Chica. It is described as essentially the same dance as the Chica". (Emery, op. cit, pps.26-27) Juba "Juba is a competition or challenge dance that spread from the Caribbean to the southern United States. Writing in 1844 F.W. E. Wudermann described a dance done on Cuba by Black slaves: Presently a woman advances and commencing a slow dance, made up of shuffling of the feet and various contortions of the body; thus challenges a rival among the men. One of these, borders than the rest tire the order, after awhile steps out, and the two then strive which shall first tire the other; the woman performing many feats which the man attempts to rival, often excelling them, amid the shouts of the rest. A woman will sometimes drive two or three successive beaux from the ring, yielding her place at length to some impatient belle, who has been meanwhile looking on with envy at her success. Sometimes a sturdy fellow will keep the field for a long time, and one after another if the other sex will advance to the context only to e defeated each one, as she retires, being greeted by the laughter if the spectators". (F.W. Wurdermann, "Notes on Cuba, Containing An account Of Its Discovery and Early History, a Description of the Face of the Country, Its Institutions, and the Manners and Customs of Its Inhabitants, With Directions to Travelers Visiting the Island" {Boston: James Munroe and Company, 1844)}, quoted in Emery, op. cit.,p. 27} |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 24 Feb 07 - 05:01 PM The list! The list! [a la "Fantasy Island". Why? Why not?] 109. The Chica 110. Calenda {Kalenda} |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: GUEST,Jim Martin Date: 25 Feb 07 - 06:27 AM My most common dance is known as 'the set' where I live in W.Clare, Ireland. It is widely danced & taught internationally as the 'Caledonian' set and is one of many such sets which have been danced in Ireland for 150 odd years. No one really seems to know how it got its name but it is widely thought to have had some influence from Scottish soldiers who were stationed here in the 19th/20th C. There is much info. availabe on the 'Set Dancing News' website. http;/www.setdancingnews.net |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: GUEST,Jim Martin Date: 25 Feb 07 - 06:30 AM Oops sorry http://www.setdancingnews.net |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 25 Feb 07 - 08:01 AM Hello Jim Martin! Thanks for posting to this thread and thanks for providing that link on Irish set dancing. For those who may still be on dial-up, I'm going to post an excerpt from one of that website's pages so you can get a 'flavor' of that site. "The following article was written to explain set dancing to people who are unfamiliar with it and to encourage them to give it at try. It originally appeared in the newsletter Inside Ireland in February 2004 and in Hornpipe magazine in June 2005. The Joy of Sets Copyright © 2007 Bill Lynch Traditional Irish dancing is well known around the world thanks to the success of Riverdance and other shows featuring amazing displays of solo step dancing. Mastering this type of dancing requires high levels of skill and fitness and many dedicated hours of practice. The best step dancers started learning as children, though many adults have taken it up in recent years. Their goal is to be judged the top dancer at a feis or competition and to perform on stage. Quite different from step dancing is set dancing, which is the type of traditional social dancing done strictly for pleasure in rural communities in Ireland for a couple hundred years or more. 'Sets' came from quadrilles, the eighteenth and nineteenth century court dances of France which spread across Europe. Irish peasants learned the quadrilles from British landlords and soldiers and took them home to their cottages where they became the uniquely Irish sets when traditional music and steps were applied to them. Four couples arrange themselves in a square to dance—the term 'set' refers both to the eight people in formation and to the dance itself. When the music begins they dance a variety of intricate moves and steps. One set can last from ten minutes to half an hour. The dancing is divided into separate sections called figures—when a figure is finished the music stops and the dancers remain in place waiting for it to resume. A set usually has from three to six figures, each one different but always danced in the same sequence. After the last figure the dancers thank one another and leave the floor. Traditionally the sets weren't formally taught—children were brought to the floor at house dances by their parents or siblings and learned by repetition. Usually people knew and danced only one set, which might be different from what their neighbours danced just a few miles away. There was no need for a caller as the set was always the same and everyone knew it. Some of the colourful set dancing terminology for the moves—round the house (dance around the set), face the hob (line up facing the front), dance at home (dance in your own position)—reflects their origin in farmhouses. Other common moves are the wheelbarrow (three facing one), little or big Christmas (four or eight spin together like a top) and ladies chain (ladies go around the opposite gent and back). The figures of sets can be danced to several different types of music—reels, jigs, polkas, hornpipes, slides, even waltzes—and there are usually different steps for each. Reels are popular with dancers in County Clare, where experienced dancers do the sets with elaborate battering steps, beating out a rhythm on the floor with their feet as complicated as anything a drummer would do with his sticks. Down south in Cork, Kerry and surrounding counties they like all types of music in their sets, but lively polkas are most common. In other parts of Ireland the sets combine several different types of music. While experienced dancers have the skill to perform amazing steps, dancers of all abilities can enjoy dancing sets together. The most basic step, the 'threes', is enough to get through most sets, and with practice dancers can add endless variety. There are up steps, down steps, side steps, doubles, trebles, sevens, swings, gallops, shuffles, kicks and many others, sometimes with separate variations for each type of music. Generally steps are danced in small movements close to the floor, often in a kind of gliding motion without even lifting the feet. This is why most set dancers prefer shoes with leather soles—it's harder to glide along the floor in rubber soles. Sets enjoyed a long popularity in the countryside where they were danced at house parties, weddings, patterns or stations (when Mass was celebrated at home), wakes and outdoors at crossroads and on platforms. House dances became restricted after 1935 when a law was passed to regulate them and collect tax on admissions. The dancing moved into dance halls, but by the sixties and seventies modern music and dancing had replaced sets nearly everywhere. ... Ceilis, or more properly céilithe, are live music dances taking place in ballrooms, halls and pubs everywhere in Ireland. On any given Friday, Saturday and Sunday there will be a choice of ceilis across the country. Admission is about €8 for three or four hours of dancing, including a tea break with sandwiches and cake. They usually run from 10pm to 1.30am on Friday and Saturday and from 3 to 6pm on Sunday afternoon. Some places are lucky enough to have mid-week ceilis taking place every week—look out for them in Kilfenora, Waterford, Ballyvourney and Killarney. Most set dancing is run by local clubs on a non-profit basis. Often there are bigger events taking place over a full weekend from Friday to Sunday. These will have three or more ceilis, plus workshops taught by well known teachers for experienced dancers wishing to learn more sets and footwork. Some weekends are small and local, while others attract hundreds of dancers from across Ireland and abroad. ... Set dancing has spread around the world, and you can attend classes, ceilis and workshops in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, USA, Canada, Australia and Japan. Wherever you are, the big challenge is knowing when and where to go. For the past eight years, Set Dancing News, a magazine and web site devoted to the subject, has helped inform set dancers of events everywhere they're known to take place. Hundreds of classes, ceilis and workshops are listed, so there's a good chance of finding something at home or convenient to your travels. Every event listed in it is open to all and you're sure to get a good welcome. ... There's another type of Irish social dancing called ceili dancing with an entirely different repertoire of dances and steps. Some of them, such as the High-Cauled Cap, are danced in the same square formation; others like the Walls of Limerick and Haymakers Jig are danced in lines. While ceili dancing is common in America, Northern Ireland and Britain, it is unusual in southern Ireland, though you will sometimes find the dances mixed in with sets at some ceilis. From my eleven years of set dancing experience, I'd have to say that it's the most pleasurable activity I've ever engaged in. The inspirational music, the energetic moves and most of all the generous and friendly people make it something unique and special. You don't have to be young, talented and athletic. Experts, beginners, children and seniors can all dance together in the same set and get the same amount of fun from it. A good night's dancing can give you a high that lasts for days. You won't have experienced joy like this since your childhood. Try it—you'll like it! " -Bill Lynch, Kilfenora, Co Clare, originally from Wilmington, Delaware |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Azizi Date: 25 Feb 07 - 08:19 AM The website that Jim shared includes these additional dance names: 111.Irish Set Dancing 112.High-Cauled Cap {Ceili dancing} 113.the Walls of Limerick {ceili dancing} 114.the Haymakers Jig {ceili dancing; note: I'm not sure if 112-114 are dance steps that are used in various dances or names of specific dances, or both. I'd appreciate some clarification about this.} 115. Step dancing {such as done in Riverdance}* * The term "step dancing" should not be confused with "steppin"/ Steppin is a choreographed competitive group performance art originiated with African American university based fraternities & sororities in the early to mid 20th century. There are Asian, Latino, and other non-African American groups as well as community and church groups who have step teams. Although dance steps are incorporated into this foot stomping performance, for the purpose of this thread, I've distinguished between 'steppin' and {usually non-competitive} social dancing. Persons interested in more information on and links to video examples of 'steppin' and its related activity strolls {also known as 'party walks'} may visit these pages of my webstite: http://www.cocojams.com/fraternity_and_sorority_chants.htm and http://www.cocojams.com/internet_links_to_steppin.htm |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Mo the caller Date: 25 Feb 07 - 09:48 AM Well, where do you start?!!! Maybe with a nit-pick. You've got the Gay Gordons twice 31 &79. You mention Welsh clogging. There is also N.E.(of England) clog, Lancashire clog, and probably more. All done in Leather clogs with curved wooden soles, which gives a different feeling to your balance. These used to be the work shoes for e.g. Lancashire mill workers. Worker would have them 'shod' with metal toes tips, as do N.W. Morris teams, but step dancers (who can dance indoors)don't. As there were a lot of Irish immigrants the Lancashire steps have similarities to Irish step dance (which River dance popularised). Irish steps (several styles) are done in hard or soft shoes. The Narrow Boat workers on the canal also had a clog style, space was limited and step dancing a good way to keep warm. More when I've read the rest of the thread. 81. you ask if there is a dance Teddy Bears Picnic. A friend of mine wrote and published one, but if you include that you'll include all the other Square dances by name (and the same dance sometimes gets a new name when it's danced to a new tune) 85. I don't know that Okey Cokey is different from Hokey Pokey, or in England Hokey Kokey.It may be a childrens game, but I get a good response from young adults at weddings, and remember it being danced at church socials in the 50s. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Mo the caller Date: 25 Feb 07 - 10:22 AM Then there is Contra. Below is a quote from this. "What is contradancing? Contradancing is in many ways like "old-time square dancing done in lines." The dances are designed so that you and your partner will dance with every other couple in these lines. The caller will teach each dance, telling you everything you need to know (no classes are necessary). The dances are done with a smooth walking step, and no fancy footwork is required. We always dance to live (and lively!) music provided by a range of talented dance musicians. Reels, jigs, waltzes and related tunes from American, Canadian and British Isles traditions predominate, and the fiddle is often a featured instrument. You can find much more detailed descriptions of contradancing at Gary Shapiro's Contradance page and at Rich Futyma's What is a contradance? page . There's also a marvelous description of contradancing by Greg Rohde here. We're an exceptionally friendly group, with people of all kinds, and an age range of 7 to 70 (more or less). Our events are both smoke and alcohol free. Dress is casual, although we request that you bring non-scuffing shoes to help protect the wood floor (tennis shoes are fine). You don't need to bring a partner. Even if you do, we encourage you to dance with other people also - you'll both learn more quickly that way! If you're new to this, we'd also suggest coming at the beginning of the dance, since that's usually when the caller teaches most carefully, with newcomers in mind." It's a lot of fun, and has evolved from the longways dances of Jane Austin's day to some high energy twirling, flirting and swinging at "Zesty Contra" clubs. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE BRISTOL STOMP (Kal Mann, Dave Appell) From: Jim Dixon Date: 28 Feb 07 - 08:26 AM I never actually did this dance, and don't even remember what it looked like, but I must have seen it on "American Bandstand." I remember the popular song. Lyrics found on the Internet and corrected by me based on the mp3 file. THE BRISTOL STOMP [Words and Music by Kal Mann and Dave Appell] CHORUS: The kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol When they do the Bristol Stomp. Really somethin' when the joint is jumpin' When they do the Bristol Stomp. 1. The sounds are spinnin' every Friday night. They dance the greatest since they do it right. But here's the latest--it's a crazy sight to see. CHORUS 2. It started in Bristol at a deejay hop. They holler and whistle, never want to stop. We pony and twist it and we rock with Daddy G. CHORUS BRIDGE: It's got that groovy beat That makes you stomp your feet. Come along and fly. Wanta feel fine. Then once you dance with me, You'll fall in love, you'll see. The Bristol Stomp will make you mine, all mine. (Repeat 1, CHORUS, 2, CHORUS) Click to play. (That mp3 file comes from a web site that looks promising: The Doo Wop Jukebox – but I had to view their source code to figure out how to construct the URL.) More info from Wikipedia:
The song made the 37th spot on the Billboard magazine pop chart in 1962. The song was written about teenagers in 1961 who were dancing a new step called "The Stomp" at dances held in a fire hall in Bristol, Pennsylvania, a small industrial borough outside of Philadelphia. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Scrump Date: 28 Feb 07 - 08:38 AM Azizi, I think songs like "Do the Dog" and "Walkin' the dog" refer to the same dance craze, presumably called "the Dog". Although I remember the songs, I don't remember seeing (let alone doing) the actual dance that went with it. Likewise, there were many songs about "The Monkey", another 1960s dance craze. Limbo and Limbo rock refer to the same "Limbo" dance craze. As you might have guessed, this was based on the limbo dance where you get down really low and dance under a bar set a few inches above the ground. The Jerk was one I forgot - as well as the Capitols "Cool Jerk", I can remember the Miracles' "Come on do the Jerk" and there are probably others I've forgotten. There were a lot of 'failed' dance crazes (i.e. crazes that never were!) that people tried to cash in on. There seemed to be a new one every week for a while in the early 1960s, until the 'craze for dance crazes' went the way of all such fads. Most of them involved doing some sort of daft movements that vaguely fitted in with the dance name, e.g. the Twist was where you rotated your body in a twisting motion; Locomotion a bit like a twist but with added hand movements suggestive of the piston rods on a train wheel; the Bird involved flapping the hands; the Funky Chicken involved moving your elbows up and down supposedly like a chicken; the monkey involved 'scratching' your armpits; etc. Not sure what "the dog" involved - sniffing each other backsides? LOL :-) Not sure if you've covered the Hand Jive, and those hand movements you see people doing, where they touch their elbows and twiddle their hands around, etc. (I hope someone knows what I mean!) - do they count as dances, as they only seem to involve the arms and not the legs (you can do them sitting down). |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Dave Hunt Date: 28 Feb 07 - 01:26 PM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWQS8xPG8eI&mode=related&search= perhaps this never really caught on - thank God! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: Dave Hunt Date: 28 Feb 07 - 01:41 PM The Funky Gibbon - a hit for the Goodies 'Do do do the funky Gibbon......' ------------------------------------------ |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thread of 1000 Dances From: GUEST,Jim Martin Date: 01 May 07 - 10:42 AM Refresh |
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