Dance History
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1910-1920
Lady Duff Gordon, British fashion icon in 1910's who shaped ballroom glamour
Lady Duff Gordon was the presonal dress designer for Irene Castle. Her sense of fashion and Irene's fame catipulted her to the top of the field of fashion design, and inspired the flowing, silky, glamourous looks of ballroom gowns.
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1920-1930
An hysterical account of ill-health conditions that result from ballroom dancing, 1921
Enjoy this hilarious report written by a doctor in 1921 which discusses the adverse effects of ballroom dancing on women's health.
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Historic American ballrooms from the 1920's that still exist
A great slideshow of ballrooms that were built in the 1920's and that are still being used today.
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The 1921 Rudolph Valentino dance scene that made people want to Tango
This article contains the actual Tango scene that started America's passion with Tango.
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Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra, the 1920's link between Jazz and Big Bands
Paul Whiteman was the first American composer to take on the task of notating and recording Jazz,
music, allowing Americans accros the country to hear what could only be heard in certina cities at the time.
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The incredible contributions of Victor Sylvester to the International Style of ballroom dancing
Vistor Sylvestor was one of the most influencial people in the birth of the International Style of Ballroom and Latin, as well as the musician who created "strict tempo
music for dancing.
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Who was Arthur Murray?
1950-1960
The Mambo dance craze of the 1950's, and how the Mambo became the Cha-Cha
Before Mambo arrived, most Latin-sounding songs were called Rumba in the United States. The Mambo craze picked up where the Lindy-hop left off, and it sparked a whole new family of ballroom dancing Latin and Amerian Rhythm.
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Historic appearance of Buddy Holly on the Arthur Murray show in 1957
An amuzing video of Buddy Holly performing on the set of the Arthur Murray Show, at a time when Rock and Roll was considered a bit edgy for proper America.
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1900-1910
The Cakewalk,
America's first popular social dance craze
By 1900, Ragtime had become America's most exciting form of music and the Cakewalk,
a dance developed by Blacks as a kind of satire and comedy act that mimicked the behaviors that Whites displayed during their Minuets and Waltzes, had become a social dance craze.
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The birthplace of modern ballroom dancing:
The Cabaret
In the early 1900's, talented amateur and professional dance couples were hired by Cabarets in American cities especialy New York city, to demonstrate to the public the "correct" way to perform the current dance crazes. These couples are the ancestors of the modern-day ballroom professional.
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Exhibition dance teams from the early 1900's
Take a peek at the earliest ballroom dance teams that helped to shape the look and appearence of American Style Ballroom dancing.
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1930-1940
The history of Samba and the Brazilian Bombshell
Find out the differences between the Brazilian Samba and the Ballroom Samba, and why the Samba is the only Latin dance that moves around the line of dance...among other interesting things about the Samba.
Brazilian Samba vs Ballroom Samba, and the history of both
Carmen Miranda came to America and brought the Samba with her, and America has been in love with Brazilian music ever since.
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1940-1950
Finally, the difference between Salsa and Mambo
Find out where the roots are between Salsa music and dancing, and Mambo music and dancing.
The 1944 "Cabaret Tax" that ended the Big Band Era
DIscover what caused the downfall of the Big Band Era...
1960-1970
Championship ballroom competition...in 1963
See this video of Professional
Championship Ballroom Competition in 1963.
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The day when the world discovered the American Style and the International Style of ballroom dance
This article explains when the two styles were officially recognized, and the situation which brought it to the attention of professionals around the world.
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1970-1980
Skippy Blair and the Universal Unit System
Skippy Blair was one of the most influencial people in the development of the West Coast Swing, and of the Golden State Dance Teacher's Association. She developed the "Universal Unit System" to help people understand body mechanics for dancing.
