Twist (dance)
The Twist is a dance that emerged in the early 1960s, characterized by its simple, no-touch style that allowed for improvisation. Its origins trace back to the 1800s, rooted in African American dance traditions, and gained modern popularity with the 1930s gospel song "Do the Twist" by the Sensational Nightingales. The dance truly entered the mainstream when rhythm-and-blues artist Hank Ballard released "The Twist" in 1959, a track that inspired a new generation of young dancers.
In 1960, Chubby Checker performed a cover on the television show American Bandstand, propelling the song and dance into American pop culture. The Twist's unprecedented success led to it topping the Billboard charts multiple times, captivating audiences across racial and socio-economic lines. This dance was notable for its lack of physical contact between partners, marking a shift in social norms regarding dance. The Twist also paved the way for a variety of subsequent dance crazes and contributed to the rise of discotheques in the United States. Its cultural impact was significant, as it encouraged self-expression and broke away from traditional dance conventions of the time.
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Twist (dance)
One of the most influential dance fads in popular music history. Ignited by recording artist Chubby Checker, the twist touched off a revolution in dance styles across the world.
Origins and History
Widely regarded as a 1960’s innovation, the twist has its roots in a twisting, gyrating dance performed in African American communities in the 1800’s. Its modern genealogy can be traced to the 1930’s when a gospel recording group, the Sensational Nightingales, created a song inviting dancers to “do the twist.” In 1957, they passed the song on to rhythm-and-blues artist Hank Ballard, who modified it to create “The Twist.” African American teenagers promptly fashioned a provocative new dance to accompany Ballard’s up-and-coming hit record.
By July, 1960, “The Twist” had made its way to Billboard’s Hot One Hundred list. Dick Clark, host of the popular television show American Bandstand, was certain that this new dance would become a sensation. Concerned that Ballard’s risqué reputation would tarnish American Bandstand’s wholesome image, Clark asked aspiring young singer Chubby Checker to produce a cover of the song aimed at a more pop-oriented audience. Debuting on Bandstand’s sister program, The Dick Clark Show, in August, 1960, the amiable and telegenic Checker sang “The Twist” and demonstrated the dance to mainstream America. The song subsequently leapt into the Top Forty and, by September, had soared to number-one status. The dance quickly became a craze, the first since the Charleston of the 1940’s, capturing the fancy of white as well as black teenagers. Requiring no basic steps and allowing liberal improvisation, the simple “no touch” dance was likened to extinguishing a cigarette with one’s feet while drying one’s back with a towel. In 1962, “The Twist” made history when it reached Billboard’s number-one spot an unprecedented second time.
The simplicity of the twist soon lured adults into the rage. At a trendy Manhattan nightclub, the Peppermint Lounge, Joey Dee and the Starliters played twist music all night long as the jet set rubbed shoulders with the working class. The twist became the darling of high society, gaining fans among celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, and Tennessee Williams as well as high-ranking politicians and European royalty.
In the early 1960’s, twenty twist-inspired songs made the Top Forty, including Grammy Award-winning “Let’s Twist Again,” “Peppermint Twist,” and “Twist and Shout.” The twist mania spread abroad before the dance became passé in the mid-1960’s.
Impact
The twist ushered in an era in which dance partners did not touch each other. It spawned an array of dance crazes including the pony, mashed potato, jerk, watusi, and hully gully and eventually led to the birth of the discotheque (a nightclub featuring dance records instead of live music performances) in the United States. Flaunting the era’s rigid moral codes, the uninhibited dance allowed people to ignore social convention and freely express themselves with their bodies. Within a few short years, the twist not only crossed over racial lines but also cut across class and generational lines, making an indelible imprint on the nation.
Additional Information
For a comprehensive history of the song and dance, see The Twist (1995), by Jim Dawson.