After Seben 1929 -- Chick Webb & "Shorty" George Snowden

After Seben
Short.
1929
Paramount Famous Lasky Corp.
Director: S. J. Kaufman
Story: James Barton

Cast:

James Barton - Emcee and Solo Dancer (in blackface)
"Shorty" George Snowden - Third Male Dancer (Called "Shorty Stump" in the film)

An early sound short set in a Harlem nightclub, featuring white vaudeville comic and eccentric dancer James Barton performing in blackface. You'll see signs of the talent that earned him an Academy Award in the forties for his acting in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." Three Savoy Ballroom couples perform the latest dance styles, primarily Charleston. The last couple is Shorty Snowden and his partner. They are just terrific, although their style clearly looks dated to us.

Note how Snowden introduces Breakaway steps, to the closed-form Charleston and you'll feel like you are witnessing the birth of the Lindy Hop, which, in fact, was the name that Snowden gave to the dance he was doing. The couple exit exuberantly with a Cake Walk.

Music by the Savoy Ballroom house band, Chick Webb and his Orchestra.

This historically important short is included in an excellent compilation of 20's and early 30's filmclips, At the Jazz Band Ball, which you can order thru SavoyStyle. There are also short excerpts in PBS:Dancing, New Worlds, New Forms, and in the National Geographic Explorer: Jitterbug, a TV special not available in video and Watch Me Move, another PBS documentary which is not issued in video.

Text from http://www.savoystyle.com/after_seben.html

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Charleston
• 20s
• Lindy
• hop
• dance
• shorty
• george
• snowden
• after
• seben
• seban
• chick
• webb

[DYNODRUM]

I,take couple number three.............and the solo dude, could cut it w/most today and was pretty ahead of us in here ,JAMES BROWN, M. jACKSON

[hihats]

take that , dancing with the stars

[jbb22310]

WOW!!! This is the day SWING was born!!!

[2LOUD2LOUD]

My favorites are Shorty Stump and Liza Underdunk!!

[lbjoshbal]

YEA

[BRazor78]

@ginsushark Dude, that video was nice... My knees would break trying to do that.

[ginsushark]

@BRazor78 check snake hips tucker

[ginsushark]

@ginsushark w/o the swingouts of course

[ginsushark]

check the dance kizomba - its like angolan bachata - totally reminds me of this style of charleston, or balboa.

[u64cxuk]

Better get back Michal Jackson. Incredible footage