Dances of the Ragtime Era 1910-1920 | Excerpt from How To Dance Through Time, Vol II

[@DoggieFosters]

Great video. Thanks! For those of you complaining about the lack of dancing nowadays - ballroom and social partner dancing is still alive and well. Seek it out.

[@AnAmericanComposer]

I do think that music of anytime, anywhere, and any style can be used and appreciated by any age group of any time, and anywhere. I'm 14 years old living in a world of metal, and rock, and rap, and techno, and yet I find a way of absolutely despising that and instead enjoying - and even writing! - classical, Ragtime, and jazz music. It's incredible...

[@33uptempo]

I love, love, love this video. My mom used to show me some of these dances, and my sisters and I and our friends would all dance around the house all the time to old records. Simple fun, but good fun.

[@HerrGobel]

I love these old dances... and the pianist in these videos is really, very good!

[@KawhackitaRag]

I think the dances of today have their time and place for sure, just not "every time" and "every place". The great thing about these old dances is that they're INTERESTING and are good for social dancing. I should try one-stepping at a modern dance club... Thanks for posting!

[@KawhackitaRag]

The tune heard at the very beginning is called "Chasing the Chickens" and was co-composed by Abe Olman (1888-1984, who can be seen interviewed/playing on KZbin, although not this particular tune), and W. Raymond Walker, who later entertained at nightclubs in Florida. It's a really excellent rag and was published by Forster in Chicago in 1917. The Six Brown Brothers recorded it for Victor records (audible on the National Jukebox). There are also MIDIs of it by John Cowles and James Pitt-Payne.

[@pax41]

Great to see the dance steps that go to the music I post on my channel. Thank you for the background and dance details.

[@LibertangoVieenrose]

FANTASTIC ! THIS IS FANTASTIC !!! Players of Ragtime (like me as accordionist) have always been wondering about the "correct" speed ragtime should be played... SCOTT JOPLIN himself stated: "... it is never right to play ragtime fast..." Now, considering the fact that it was a public dance of that time (1910-1920 appr.) performed by unprofessionals (non-show-dancers) leads musicicans to the truth: it really (!) can be played slower than most saloon-piano-players did to prove their excellence and virtuosity. So let's assume slow-march and march tempo (100 - 120 bpm) to be at the right level. Nevertheless: a faster speed surely is allowed - because show girls and show groups did so too ! Well, beside being a great dance-tutorial, this is to me the perfect clip showing correct speed-handling of ragtime of this era. Really wonderful. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS !

[@JudgeJulieLit]

@AnAmericanComposer You're absolutely right about the potential universal appeal of any musical style or composition . . . and sophisticated for your age. I wish you joy and success in your composing career !

[@medwardb1976]

The culprit in setting off partnerless dancing was Chubby Checker and his "Twist" in the early sixties. I remember seeing him on a talk show in the early seventies where they were taking about his legacy. And I distinctly remember him saying, "As long as they're dancing apart, they're still doing my thing."

[@Brampyr]

That's false, the culprit in setting off partnerless dancing was bebop. Though people were dancing partnerless before that, bebop was focused more on the individual musician doing their own thing. Which in turn caused the dancers to do their own thing and break apart from each other to dance solo.

[@tymanung6382]

However, many Afro American dances of N. + S. America + Caribbean have separate partners,,so became model?

[@SnailWitAWifiRouter]

im glad you put this up cause i have to do a homework essay on this for my dance class at school so thanks!

[@KawhackitaRag]

The sheet music to "Chasing the Chickens" which is public domain, can now be downloaded and printed free from the "IN Harmony: sheet music from Indiana" website, which archives a number of large collections of popular American sheet music (originally published all over the U.S. but mainly in New York and Chicago) online.

[@Kaalec]

What an utterly charming dance the Mattchiche was. I had never seent that dance before.

[@tymanung6382]

Now (2023l) You Tube has many examples of real.Brazilian Maxi xe in 1910s?20s? RJ--Belle Epoque---Maxixe Maxixe by Brasil Zouk Club GFAB---Maxixe Maxixe---a Danca, Perdida. (M. the Forgotten Dance-- interviews, narration + performances )As Muitas, Historias da Musica Popular Brasileira ( The Many Histories of Brazil Popular Music (in generic meaning not MPB music style). Also there are articles on history. anthropology of Maxixe, several version Afro Brasil, Euro Brasil, US? + France, etc.

[@elizabethabrantes4450]

Awesome video! Pretty enlightening on the 20s rythms!

[@Shabannie]

Thank you for posting this nice video~

[@twombonu]

I should make you the heirs to my phonograph collection! Fabulous video!!!!

[@jarvisel]

I like how even the narrator can't control her amusement during the Grizzly Bear.

[@Ragtimer95]

Love "Chasin' The Chickens" as the background music!

[@KawhackitaRag]

I should really look up which tango this is... it's a really great one!

[@JudgeJulieLit]

Here on KZbin is a video showing 1910-1920 Ragtime dance crazes (searchstring those words). It shows the Grizzly Bear, the Castle walk and the Maxixe. The uploader (and Googling the searchstring) can show you more learning sources.

[@kamilla1960]

In the past, social dancing was extremely important as a legitimate way for people to interact in a fairly uninhibited manner without endangering their reputations.

[@tymanung6382]

In 19th + 18th? c,s that was the ONLY acceptable because chaperoned, place for young singles to meet, especially for finding potential marriage partners (Jane Austen, etc.)

[@svnnybvddy]

It’s not often I see videos labeled 15 years ago

[@pixielinux]

And it used to be (up until not too long ago) that when two people who obviously knew how to dance really well started doing a number out of the floor the entire crowd of people would move out of the way and create a circle around them until the song was over, then everyone would applaud the couple would leave the dance door and every one would go back to dancing. Now people just ignore them, are in the way, and get mad and annoyed when the twirling couple slams into them.

[@bowwing333]

LMAO! I would love to see the look on their faces! I'll have to try this! XD

[@_historical_fashion_7567]

Fun fact: Tango is an argentine dance, but it was considered too touchy for the upper classes, intil the Baron DeMarchi della Costa, and italina nobleman that married the daughter of Julio Argentino Roca, hosted a big tango ball at the Palais de Glace in Buenos Aires. No need to say it was a hughe success.

[@_historical_fashion_7567]

Also all of this happened in 1913

[@tymanung6382]

Many European or Euro derived dances were 1st created by less inhibited farmers artisans, etc. regular, less socially restricted, more informal.

[@KawhackitaRag]

Partner dancing is still done today, but it has gone underground. Of course the older generations still do it, but there are many younger people partner dancing today. Most of the ones I know dance swing and related steps from the 1930s to the 1950s or so. I'm not aware of too many younger folks who do the old ragtime steps, although I've really wanted to learn these, since swingdancing is too hard for me, and I already play the ragtime-era music on the piano to begin with.

[@tymanung6382]

Hopefully you can find a local historical dance or re enactors group, or start. your own?

[@Txboy85A]

I would like to see the fire dance. Margaret Mitchell who wrote Gone With The Wind had performed that for a dance recital and was talked about for doing it. Apparently it was very risque.

[@walkie74]

Now, now, give the younger generation SOME credit. :) One has to be in the right place and right time--"in da club" is probably not going to work well for a civilized foxtrot. That said, I love these classic dances and wish I could do them more often.

[@TribalKatz]

Good for you.

[@MrSkiazomai]

It's ironic that you say that considering how many thought the same thing of this dance culture during the turn of the Century as you think of our dance culture now.

[@MrSondre1997]

Awesome :D

[@EveWilson16]

@thelonelyslayer I have been there, it's just really... Erm... I don't know the right word for it. Gross is an understatement... I do my dance where ever I want to. I don't dance in some kind of club, I just saw it and thought it would be fun to learn the dance. It started with the Charleston, it's still my favourite. :)

[@alanteam]

my favorite dance from this video is tango

[@tymanung6382]

This is. foreign version.Argentinde started + "wild + wacky" tango canyengue, slowed down? a bit + tango orillero,,even more + 2 versions of very moderate tango liso. Ragtime era tango may be from tango liso? See various tango websites for demonstrations + instructions for canyengue + orillero, at least. (Tango history videos---some are in English, others in Spanish.)

[@carmendemetrio7685]

😃 Genial❗️...

[@GONEmypurpleflapjack]

@thelonelyslayer Th waltz used to be considered as indecent as pole dancing. Ditto on this style.

[@TheFeliciascabello]

Amei o ragtime, nem sabia que é um estilo musical e muito lindo!

[@tymanung6382]

Chiquinha, Gonzaga, Ernesto Nazare, etc. incorporavam a musica de. ragtime nos,,maxixes, tangos brasileiros, etc.

[@Bajutsuka]

Hahaha, we call this sophisticated now, but in that time it was like the ass to groin from today! :D

[@DoggieFosters]

@pixielinux As an experienced ballroom dancer, I'd be peeved myself if some showy floor hogs thought themselves entitled to take over a floor in an entirely inappropriate environment. And slamming into people is a definite no-no regardless of the situation: floor craft and etiquette are paramount.

[@SnailWitAWifiRouter]

speaking of old dances im learning the Swing in dance class

[@tymanung6382]

Actually, researchers found that there is swing (1930s slang for syncopated) music +-many dances, that started + lindy hop" later smooth lindy, St Louis shag, collegiate shag, balboa, etc., finally in 1950s E Coast swing, Carolina shag (these 2 similar(, very different W Coast swing. (note the only later use if swing as dance style names.) Rag (time) = Swing = both were different decades slang for syncopated.

[@OLD_SOUL1900]

💖💖💖💖

[@vegetabraone]

4:25 someone here knows this song?

[@Koriinjrocklova]

Looking at different dances right now.(both old&new, American&non-American)Wish I could do the dances here but they are partner dances&I don't have a partner to dance with.I don't just stick to one dance.I love all dances.Right now I'm very interested in Belly Dancing.(Raqs baladi.)Though people are against calling it"sexual"or"stripper"without even researching it.(Guys bellydance too.Not just girls.)Only person who doesn't is my mom.Each dance is beautiful in their own way.Media closes eyes.

[@tymanung6382]

Perhaps look for local city recreation center, community college or private dance schools (individual.or chain like Arthur Murray.) Good luck!!!

[@X_Bunnie_Xx]

@thelonelyslayer there's a new dance called the "shuffle" it incorporates part of the charleston, i just laughed lol

[@tymanung6382]

A minor step if Charleston became .mashed potatoes in early 1960s

[@TheSofiamaria]

@CapaodaCanoa I guess, it's a tribute to Rudolpho Valentino, teh movie star of 1920s... Check here on KZbin him dancing tango

[@noobster2142]

@thelonelyslayer i don't even think that we can call dancing what we see in clubs ... :)

[@CorySmart]

@thelonelyslayer It's not actually not today's generation that is defiant and what-not, teens have been like that since the dawn of time.

[@alanteam]

who would want dance training?

[@GONEmypurpleflapjack]

@msm2you I guess little girls didn't grow up wanting to be ballerinas back then.

[@katieb3926]

Exactly! From Music Man: "One fine night, they leave the pool hall, Headin' for the dance at the Arm'ry! Libertine men and Scarlet women! And Rag-time, shameless music That'll grab your son and your daughter With the arms of a jungle animal instinct! Mass-staria!"

[@bumonthecorner13]

Wow that bear thing is seven kind of stupid!

[@viper771]

These dances look pretty hard to do lol

[@hazyimperfection7129]

Agreed, dancing to ragtime was incredibly racy at the time, as weird as that seems.

[@azione]

@thelonelyslayer Really? you really want to just walk around at pace in clubs? I like the Charleston as much as anyone, but this is dancing with no rhythm so lets not go nuts. Go watch Flamenco, there´s more sex in there than any rap video. It´s just a little more subtle.

[@TribalKatz]

Not true at all. Check out popping, bboying, or house dancing.

[@axcrewe]

come on ..where's Chubby Checker? ha!

[@cammicty]

Majority of Ragtime were from Blacks! Ragtime music was! Many other dances were taken from many classical dances! But not traditional Ragtime!

[@Johnnyradionic]

The dance "The Grizzly Bear" should be renamed, "When Palsies Marry." Your friend, Johnny Radionic™

[@annas.2387]

White People Dancing didn't get that good again until the Pogo!

[@tymanung6382]

There were even wackier animal dances kangaroo jump, wallaby hop?, airplane, picket fence, fish, chicken scratch, etc.

[@WPudding007]

The Name for ragtime dance is cake walk and comes from the black people in america ( sorry for the gramma im german)

[@tymanung6382]

Cakewalk started in 1880s? by US Afro Americans, while Caribbean + S American African Americans created early salsa in Cuba, partly helped + tango in Argentina,,solo + couple samba& maxix e in Brasil. etc.

[@tymanung6382]

But, music publishers + musicians often mixed + matched cakewalk + 1 step music--- though cakewalk + 1 step are different, same music often suited both dances, advertised or not.

[@BardOfXiix]

Maybe you should go to different clubs. There are plenty of places that espouse real dancing, as opposed to the lovely sex-with-clothes my generation has become attached to.

[@xenos60]

Good video but thank god for the charleston and the quick-step these are some of the stupidest dance moves I've ever seen and I've been raves.