10 DECADES OF DANCING IN THE USA
1920’S - SWING DANCING
As we mentioned above,
social dance was a high point
in the „20s. Specfically, swing
dancing in the latter half of the
decade. During this time, it
was common to step into a
“swing scene,” enjoy dancing
to Big Band music and chat
and laugh with friends. What
was so special about swing
during this moment in
American history was the fact
that it brought touch back to
the dance floor.
Swing dancing is about as
social as it gets, which is why
it‟s so fun to learn (and teach).
If the feeling of swinging
around the dance floor sounds
like a dream, you‟re going to
love this iconic American jazz
variation.
1930’S - MOONWALK
What if you were dancing
when the Moonwalk was the
move of choice? That was the
case in the „30s after the Jive
died down in the early part of
the decade. And if you‟re
shaking your head, thinking
the Moonwalk was created by
Michael Jackson, think
again—this move, though
called “The Buzz” at the time,
was first stepped by Jazz icon
Cab Calloway as early as
1932.
Calloway regularly performed
at the famous Cotton Club in
Harlem, and others like him
also showed off their fancy
footwork now known as the
Moonwalk.
1940’S - MAMBO AND EAST
COAST SWING
The „40s were very much alive
with dancing and movement, so
much so, in fact, that there is
not one particular dance style
that categorizes this decade.
Remember that this time period
was difficult for America—it
came off the heels of The Great
Depression, which spanned the
entire „30s, and then catapulted
into World War II in 1941.
Americans needed a way to
relieve their stress, and one of
the best ways to do that to this
day is to dance, of course!
In the „40s, the Mambo rose to
popularity (think of Lou Bega‟s
catchy tune, “Mambo Number
5”) thanks to the Cuban dance
style reaching America‟s dance
floors. In addition to the Mambo,
East Coast Swing also took the
spotlight, which featured dances
like the Modern Jive, Boogie
Woogie, Rock and Roll, and
Collegiate Shag. All these fun
styles are social and quick and
surely lifted the spirits of
Americans at home during such
a storied section of world
history.
1950’S - HAND JIVE AND
CHA CHA
By the time the mid-century
rolled around, people began
taking the Jive to their hands,
quite literally dancing with
their hands in fast
movements. Contemporary
dance was also starting to
come on the scene, which
would be the beginning of
non-swing styles as we know
them today.
From that point, the Mambo
and Rumba were combined to
create the Cuban Cha Cha,
which is a simple dance
anyone can learn. The Cha
Cha generally features triple
steps called Chasse and rock
steps. The „50s mark an
interesting pivot in America‟s
dance culture as well as social
culture.
1960’S - LOCKING, POPPING,
AND ROBOT-ING
Going through the decades,
you can see how people
become more creative and
willing to try new things as
dancing gained popularity. In
the „60s, Swing dancing still
had a strong grip, but other
styles such as Detroit
Ballroom, Locking, and
Popping also become normal.
Oh, and the jolty, rigid Robot
Dance also became
commonplace.
Popping, different from
Locking and Breaking, is one
of the earliest forms of funk.
Locking is similar but very
different if you know your hip
hop moves. Speaking of
which, these styles from the
„60s are still popular in hip hop
dancing today, showing that
great moves can transcend
time and cultural barriers.
1970’S - DISCO, CHICAGO
STEPPING, AND SALSA
Talk about a freely moving 10
years! The „70s were not shy in
terms of music, dance clubs, and
movement. Many people are
probably familiar with the big
surge in Disco Dancing, but
Chicago Stepping and Salsa were
also notable dance forms (among
a few others) that captivated
society and inspired people to get
on their feet.
With Studio 54‟s iconic disco
scene in New York City, there‟s no
doubt that this decade has also
played a large part in the
beginning stages of the nightclub
scene (speaking of which, have
you danced the night away at any
of these New Jersey nightclubs?).
The music style also included
more suggestive moves like hip
gyrations (does the Hustle ring a
bell?), and the overall disco
culture overflowed into American
values, freeing people of
inhibitions they may have had. We
can thank today‟s house and
electronic music for its humble
beginnings in the beats of disco
tunes.
1980’S - ROCK AND ROLL
At the height of rock and roll,
the dancing matched its
music. People began Moshing
in mosh pits as well as
Jacking, which is a simple
back-and-forth body move
that many people still do today
when they listen to EDM.
Another American dance style
in the „80s was known as
Voguing, which basically had
dancers envisioning they were
Egyptian hieroglyphs or highly
stylized models making
dramatic shapes with their
bodies.
In its oldest, purest form,
Voguing would actually pit two
dancers in a duel against
each other, and one would
win by “pinning” the other in a
corner to a point where the
opponent could no longer
move while the other
continued to dance.
1990’S - ZUMBA AND
MEMPHIS JOOKIN’
If you haven‟t believed us
about dancing help you lose
weight, take a quick trip down
memory lane back to the „90s
when Zumba took the fitness
world by storm. The dance
class was created Colombian
dancer and choreographer
Alberto "Beto" Perez as an
exercise program, and it
spread like wildfire through
gyms and homes across
America.
To balance this aerobic
workout, hip hop moves
continued their rise. Memphis
Jookin‟, for example, became
a big player in many rappers‟
acts during this decade that
the rap music genre made a
name for itself.
2000’S - KRUMPING AND 2010’S - A LITTLE BIT OF
ELECTRO DANCE EVERYTHING

We made it to our current

decade! Many of today‟s
popular dances tend to be
We continue to see hip hop‟s trends pulled from either
influence on dancing through the YouTube videos or music
millennium, when Krumping
artist‟s own music videos. The
becomes a dance floor favorite. In
creation of new dances happens
case you need a refresher,
Krumping first started as a Los frequently with group and line
Angeles street dance that was dances such as Gangnam Style,
highly energized with jolty body Single Ladies, and even Flash
movements. It basically Mobs.
personified the 2000‟s.
The 2010‟s can perhaps be best
The 2000‟s were also explained by the large
characterized by the ever- influences of various dances our
increasing interest in electronic culture has absorbed and
music. Electro Dance, then, was a tweaked over the past 100
mix of many of the dance styles years. When you look at the
spanning the past few decades, dance floor, you will see a mix
combining Vogue moves with of hip hop dancers, line
Disco and even adding in freestyle
dancers, and straight-up
glow stick moves. Deep beats
freestylers, and we think this is
gave Americans a reason to get
on their feet! an amazing representation of
the way dance has evolved and
shaped America through the
years.

REFERENCE: http://www.arthurmurraydancenow.com/blog/most-popular-dance-styles-over-the-
past-100-years
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region VII
Science and Technology Education Center
Science and Technology Senior High School
Basak, Lapu-Lapu City

Past Dances
of the World

Submitted by:

Sherwin O. Paquibot

Submitted to:

Mrs. Carolina Almeda

Date of Submission:

July 10, 2019

 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region VII
Science and Technology Education Center
Science and Technology Senior High School
Basak, Lapu-Lapu City

Past Dances
of the World

Submitted by:

Junrex Warner Cinco

Submitted to:

Mrs. Carolina Almeda

Date of Submission:

July 10, 2019