Dont Knock the Rock

the 1920's number

more info @ dancehistory.org

Category:

Music

Tags:

• swing
• tap
• jazz
• dance
• jitterbug
• lindy
• charleston
• racoon

[musoros]

Is this from the movie Don't knock the Rock? If so then the movie was made in 1956 so it is not really charleston from the 1920's! Having said that its a lovely and pretty accurate reproduction. Love the music too.

[twobarbreak]

Yes, it was made in 1956. however, 2 issues to point out. many of the dancers in this clip were "Swing era" dancers and learned from those who actually did these dances, and second, in 1956 there were plenty of people alive still from the 20's to make sure the dancing to be represented accurately...too many people back then to call them on it.

Today, we can do anything and call it 20's, because there is not a single person old enough to say otherwise...

[SofiaRemus]

This is really slow for the charleston and almost boring to watch. A lot of the dance moves being used arn't part of the dance.

I think the director could have done better.

[twobarbreak]

What makes you think Charleston should be done at any specific tempo? And what moves are not part of what dance?

This was a 1920's era of dancing performance, The dances they do include Black Bottom,the Racoon,and Charleston (i don't recall Varsity Drag).

[bloodysword4]

Actually the charslton does have an exact tempo and it is the tempo that the original song called the "Charleston" that the dance was based off of. They are dancing too slow.

I was refering to when they were doing the charlston for the moves. Some do not belong.

[twobarbreak]

well, first , Charleston doesn't have a specific tempo, it doe's have a specific rhythm.

however, no where does it say this a "Charleston" performance. It's a 20's performance as stated above, with many steps from dances such as the Black Bottom.

[Uncle5cary]

SEE! White males can dance.

[recon437]

Those chicks are beasts.

I know pole dancers that can't even stand on heels like that.

[thelonelyslayer]

@sinclairalex80 I think the majority of today's teen/young adult generation is way too lazy to ever get into these amazing dances of yesteryear. I mean, some kids today are killing it with that Shuffle dance, but other than that...couch potatos. Or should i say, computer clods.

[thelonelyslayer]

Lord, that couple in the raccoon coat....love it!!!! :-D

[thelonelyslayer]

@SofiaRemus How can you watch all of those seperate, wonderful dance routines coinciding with one another and even feign to be bored by them? They're awesome.

[sinclairalex80]

this will come back, i mean its fucking amazing haha

[Dreambro1]

I think there are dance revolutions, like, u had the waltz, if you notice, these charleston dances kind of start with the waltz hold,and the charleston steps are then used later in more modern dance steps, like disco has influenced our style 35 years after it became big! we still line dance and use the same steps and rythm of disco, we just call it other things!

[Dreambro1]

@twobarbreak yeah, a person born in 1910 who was a teen in the twenties would have only been in their 40s, Still agile enough even to show how it was done ! LOL But i do notices that one dance usually evolves off another previous to it, like when i watch clips from the 40s , i see kicks and moves that are similar to what is featured in clips from the 20s ! Like before it was called swing, they had what they called, "stomps" which were what i believe to be the mother of swing!