Learn To Dance (1926)

A 1926 Tutorial on various dance pose and positions.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 1920's
• 1920s
• dance
• fox
• trot
• tutorial
• jazz
• age
• roaring
• twenties
• band
• orchestra
• learn
• charleston

[jazzgirl1920s]

I recognize the tune at the beginning of the video as Proud of A Baby Like You. The band sounds like they are playing the Jean Goldkette version or arrangement and they are very good. Who are they?

[Aaron1912]

The Bratislava Hot Serenaders

[jonjamg]

We had a ballroom local to us which was widely used for various functions and balls. Everyone would get up and dance unfortunately we had living with us British Champions so they would show everyone how it should be done. They were brilliant to watch gaining popular notoriety when they appeared on The Two Ronnies for the ballroom dancing number.

[ebronken]

@LewStone07

Well, the second tune is not by the Bratislava Orchestra. That remarkably good sound you are hearing is actually from the late twenties. I don't know this recording, but I would guess it is made by the Piccadilly label. They had a very distinct sound in their studio. The style is very much that of Percival Mackey's Orchestra (On the Piccadilly label listed as The Everbright Boys)

[Smalltowngal29]

The two examples they showed after the instructions : Remember, the golden rule is to dance with style and grace. Not like this.... made me smile. Nice vintage clip!

[LewStone07]

The next tune was "A Garden In the Rain" I believe, very authentic sounding

[jazzgirl1920s]

I just wish I could have played this recording of Proud Of a Baby Like You by the Bratislavia Hot Serenaders for Paul Mertz when I visited him in 1983. I knew Paul Mertz who played piano for the Goldkette band in the 1920's and was on many of their original recordings with Bix.  Unfortunately the Bratislava Serenaders were not around then because Paul Mertz would have been amazed at how close they come to capturing the Goldkette band's sound. My husband recorded Paul Mertz playing Hurricane.

[jazzgirl1920s]

I have a cd by this band and I think that they come the closest of any band to sounding like the 1920's bands. The other band that I thought came the closest was the Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra but they aren't around anymore. There is no band I ever have heard in the U.S. that even comes close to the authentic sound of the Bratislava Hot Serenaders. This recording of theirs is uncannily close to the original Jean Goldkette recording made for Victor in 1926.

[k9henrydog]

I love 1920's ballroom dancing! So much less affected than the polished competitors of today!! almost a folk dance!! best wishes

[idasynco]

LOL, not a handle for pumping water...I bet she is after a few drinks...VERY nice vid...I love to dance!