1920s Dance Marathons

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Back in the 1920s the population of Europe and North America wanted to run away from their problems, wars so they went to dance. As wars and poor economic conditions were happening at that time people wanted to find a secure place to forget the Depression. Dancing was the only way for them to relax, forget and let go their suppressed emotions. The optimistic 20's music and dances were an escape from the problems and horrors of the wars. Dance had other purpose in 20's and 30's than what we have nowadays. While today’s dancing is to impress people, find a date or show someone your skills, back then people danced to forget the stress, find a romance and have fun. Social dancing became very popular everywhere, people started to dance swing dances in the clubs, parties and other venues for dancing. Even dance …show more content…

The Savoy had block-long dance floor and a raised double bandstand. This place attracted the best swing dancers and the biggest black jazz bands of New York. A lot of different dance styles have originated and developed at the Savoy Ballroom, such as Charleston, The Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, the Shimmy. (Savoyplaque.org, n.d.) In 1920s dance marathons started to happening. They marked the line between the real and the theatrical dance. Dancers even got the prizes such as money, food and gifts. No one could understand where the real life disappears and theatre appears. Swing dance marathons was not only a fun way to socialise and have fun, but public also had paid to watch contestants dance non-stop for as long as they could. 'By the 1930’s the nightlife and leisure culture of the 1920’s was faded dream that the patriotic bunting of most dance marathons could recall but not re-create' (Malnig, 2009: 96). Marathons included social dances such as the Charleston, fox trot, jitterbug, and the Lindy Hop to the working-

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