Charleston (dance)
The Charleston is a lively dance that emerged during the Roaring Twenties, characterized by its energetic movements and syncopated rhythms. It likely has roots in the dances of the Ashanti people, reflecting a rich cultural heritage, and it was initially popularized in an African American community near Charleston, South Carolina. The dance gained significant visibility in the early 1910s, particularly after being introduced in Harlem stage productions. Its widespread popularity surged in 1923, especially with the Broadway musical "Runnin' Wild," which featured a memorable performance that captivated audiences.
The Charleston became synonymous with the vibrant culture of the 1920s, often associated with the flapper movement and the lively atmosphere of speakeasies. This dance could be performed solo, socially with a partner, or as part of a group and was celebrated for its ability to break away from traditional social norms. It also played a crucial role in the careers of many entertainers, becoming a stepping stone for figures like Joan Crawford and Ginger Rogers. The Charleston remains a significant part of American dance history, influencing subsequent dance styles such as the Lindy Hop and the jitterbug, and continues to be enjoyed today.
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Charleston (dance)
The Charleston expressed the “Roaring Twenties” aspect of the 1920s in dance and contributed to the creation of several subsequent American dance styles.
Although the Charleston has many similarities to the sixteenth-century French branle dance style, it probably traces back to the dances of the Ashanti people of Africa who were brought to the Americas as plantation slaves. Dance critics generally believe the Charleston originated in a small African American community off the coast of South Carolina. The dance was soon adopted by African Americans in nearby Charleston and became known as the Charleston dance. In 1913, the dance was introduced in stage productions in Harlem, New York. In 1923, Florenz Ziegfeld included Ned Wayburn’s Charleston song-and-dance number in his Ziegfeld Follies at the New Amsterdam Theater in New York. That same year, Rufus Greenlee and Maude Russell performed a Charleston in the playLiza. However, the dance’s immense popularity really began as a result of the performance of a Charleston by the line of chorus boys known as the “Dancing Redcaps” in George White’s 1923 Broadway musical Runnin’ Wild. The show’s song “The Charleston” was written by James P. Johnson. By 1924, people throughout the United States were dancing the Charleston as a popular dance.
The dance was perfectly attuned to the popular jazz music of the era. It afforded an opportunity to challenge established social etiquette and mores with its fast-paced steps and its rowdy flinging of legs and arms. It could be performed solo, with a partner, or in a group. Flappers, with their rolled-down stockings and short dresses, wildly danced the Charleston to the disapproval of proper society. The dance became associated with speakeasies and symbolized the spirit that dominated the Roaring Twenties.
The Charleston also became popular in dance competitions. Jazz singer and dancer Henry “Rubberlegs” Williams won his first competition doing the dance. Expertise in dancing the Charleston led to successful careers both onstage and in the movies for many entertainers during the 1920s. Although Joan Crawford was best known as a dramatic actor, her break into show business came in 1923, when she won an amateur dance contest doing the Charleston. Famed dancing film star Ginger Rogers first demonstrated her talent when she won the Texas State Charleston contest on November 9, 1925.
Impact
The Charleston symbolizes American popular culture in the 1920s. With its flamboyant use of arms and legs, fast pace, and rapidly changing rhythms, the Charleston was the embodiment of the rebellious, animated mindset of the time. It dominated the era as the most popular dance. The Charleston is still danced and was the forerunner of the Lindy Hop, the jitterbug, and the “mashed potato,” a West Coast Swing dance.
Bibliography
Andreu, Helene. Jazz Dance Styles and Steps for Fun. Bloomington, Ind.: Authorhouse, 2003.
Hazzard-Gordon, Katrina. Jookin’: The Rise of Social Dance Formations in African-AmericanCulture. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1992.
Stearns, Marshall, and Jean Stearns. Jazz Dance: The Story of American Vernacular Dance. New York: DaCapo Press, 1994.