If
anyone can provide pictures, steps or instructions
on how any of the dances listed here were performed, or add to the
names list, please
e-mail!
The
arrival of rock'n'roll brought a major change to the social
art of dancing. Although
contact dancing with a partner was still as popular as always
(naturally!) variations and speed became more frantic and
less formalised. Non-contact dances and those that could be
performed solo became ever more popular, particularly with
The Mods.
The styles and crazes changed with rapid regularity,
in line with new records and the changes in musical styles
and taste . . . . . the
biggest and most enduring of these new dances was 'The
Twist'.
Pioneered
in the States by Chubby Checker and a group called Joey Dee
and the Starliters it was huge to the point where national
competitions were held. It found its way to British dance
halls around 1961 with Chubby Checker's chart-topping record
'Let's Twist Again' and its various follow-ups.
In the USA instructions for doing the Twist were enclosed,
with every record sold, advising "Imagine you are stubbing
out a cigarette with both feet whilst drying your back with
a towel", which pretty well describes it.
No other dance craze really came close to it, despite the
efforts of the television pop show Ready
Steady Go! which broadcasted its (almost) weekly 'new
moves' section to a huge audience.
Resident
dancers on the show were Theresa Confrey and Patrick Kerr who both invented
and demonstrated new dances alongside 'members of the public' (chosen
specially during their visits to the 'Sabre' club). Oh,
and by the way - the Ready Steady Go! warm-up man for the 'public' dancers
was a certain Paul Raven who became better known in the 70s as Gary Glitter
"The "Twist" was a song written and recorded in 1959
by Hank Ballard and his group The Midnighters and was inspired
by the way his backing singers moved as they sang. The original
version was the 'B' side to "Teardrops On Your Letter".
Dick Clark failed to talk Hank Ballard into performing the
song on 'American Bandstand' so he duplicated the song using
an unknown chicken plucker called Earnest Evans who was
also an amateur song style impersonator. Before release,
Dick Clark's wife suggested that Earnest adopt a stage name,
maybe something like 'Fats Domino'. They substituted 'Chubby'
for 'Fats' and 'Checker' for 'Domino' and the rest, as they
say, is history!
One of the main factors in the popularity of the Twist was
that it was so easy to do. It could be performed by anyone,
regardless of whether they had a sense of rhythm or not.
Chubby Checker went on to release other 'dance craze' songs
including "The Mess Around", "The Hucklebuck" and "The Fly".
Many other acts also recorded versions of 'Twist' songs
like The Isley Brothers' and The Beatles' "Twist and Shout",
"Twistin' The Night Away" by Sam Cooke and the
aforementioned Joey Dee And The Starlighters' "Peppermint
Twist". Chubby Checker recorded versions in Italian, French
and German, devoting an entire multilingual L.P.to the dance
called 'Twisting Round The World'. Although hundreds of
'dance styles' were invented during the decade - see the
list below! - none were more popular or long-lived than
"The Twist".
The Cavern Club in Liverpool had its own special dance almost forced
upon it. Called 'The Cavern Stomp' it consisted of holding hands with
the person nearest you and jerking backwards and forwards in an effort
to avoid falling over. This was just about all that was possible due
to the overcrowded nature of the venue!
There
was also the dance to 'The Clapping Song' by Shirley Ellis (
did it have a name? ) and even The Charleston and The Hand Jive
had Sixties revivals!
'Kick your feet up, swing your arms up too, move your head both
ways like you see me do'. 'Do The Freddie' was a US hit for
Freddie and the Dreamers in 1965, reaching number 18. The song
didn't chart in the UK at all. It was a similar story for the
'War Canoe', in the style of Monkey and Jerk, a non-hit for
the mighty Rolf Harris.
The 'Batusi' was a slightly sinister dance, based on the Watusi,
using 'moves' mimicking the actions of 'Batman'.
The Bop and The Shoulder Shake were still long-running standards
for the Teds and motorcycle fraternity, while the line-dancers
participated in whatever the local version was of The Stroll.
For the handbag dancers there was always the Shadow Walk.
The
Hully Gully was a type of unstructured line dance popularised in
the sixties but also mentioned some forty years earlier as a dance
common in the black juke joints in the twenties. In its Sixties
form it was started by Frank Rocco at the Cadillac Hotel in Miami
Beach, Florida. The Olympics sang the song "Hully Gully", in 1959,
which involved no physical contact at all and the same tune was
later used by the Marathons and entitled "Peanut Butter". Sam the
Sham and the Pharaohs' 1964 hit "Wooly Bully" was originally titled
"Hully Gully," but the band could not record it under that name
due to the prior existence of a recorded song by that title and,
in any case, the speed of the beat did not fit to the steps of "Hully
Gully".
Put on your dancing shoes . .
. Here are a few 'instructional' videos posted on 'You Tube' that
may help visualisation of basic steps involved. First, in 5 'volumes',
are The Pontani Sisters with their 'GoGoRobics II':
A
'basic step' introduction to: Jerk, Monkey, Pony, Swim, Shimmy, Mashed
Potato, Skate, Egyptian, Hitchhiker, Temptation Walk and The Locomotion:
Bend
It!
Click
on the image to see the original instructions to Patrick
Kerr's dance (Thanks to Scooter Stu for this!)
The Hokey Pokey (or Cokey)
The participants stand in a big ring formation during the
dance.
The dance follows the instructions given in the lyrics of
the song, which may be prompted by a bandleader or another
danceleader. Specific body parts are named, and these are
then sequentially put into the ring, taken out of the ring,
and finally wiggled around maniacally inside the ring. After
this is done one raises one's hands up to the side of the
head, wiggles them, and turns around in place until the
next sequence begins, with a new named body part. A sample
instruction set would be:
You put your left ear in, You put your left ear out, You
put your left ear in and you shake it all about. You do
the Hokey Pokey and you turn around, That's what it's all
about . . . oi!
The
Watusi (Dance
to moderate tempo)
Stance:
Stand with your feet about 12 inches apart. Keep both knees
bent at all times. Pretend you are going to take a golf swing.
Hip Movement:
On the count of one, shift weight to right foot, making right
hip move out to the right.
On the count of two, shift weight to left foot, making left
hip move out to the left. Move from side to side with hips
swinging right to left to a 1-2, 1-2 rhythm.
Arm Movement:
Hold arms out in front of you as if you were holding a golf
club. Swing hands to your right, then down in a semicircular
motion to your left, back to right, then to left, counting
1-2, 1-2.
Putting Them Together:
Now do the hand and hip movements simultaneously from right
to left on a count of 1-2.
The
Mashed Potato / Monster Mash The
basic Mashed Potato dance steps are on the right.
The 'Monster Mash is essentially the same dance, done
with creepy, ghoul-like arm movements and transitions.
Right
knee bends, right foot lifts off the floor, weight shifts
to left foot.
Pivot on left foot an eighth of a turn clockwise.
Left foot pivots a quarter turn counterclockwise.
Right foot steps close to left foot, then right foot pivots
a quarter turn clockwise.
Left knee bends and left foot lifts off the floor.
Right foot pivots a quarter turn clockwise.
Left foot steps close to right foot, then left foot pivots
quarter turn clockwise.
Right knee bends and right knee lifts off the floor.
Left foot pivots quarter turn counterclockwise.
Right foot steps close to left foot, then right foot pivots
quarter turn clockwise.
Left knee bends and left foot lifts off the floor.
Right foot pivots quarter turn counterclockwise.
Repeat.
The
Hitch-Hike
1. Stand in upright position with feet apart, doing the frug
movement.
2. Hitch-hike with right thumb on the counts 1-2-3, to you
right side.
3. Clap on the fourth beat on the right side of your body.
4. Hitch-hike with the left thumb on the count 1-2-3, back
to the left side.
5. Clap on the fourth beat on the left side of your body.
Repeat over and over.
The
Monkey
1 . Taking a fighter's crouch, face your partner and stand
with feet apart, knees bent.
Bend arms and close fists, thumbs up.
2. Bend forward from waist to the left, raising right arm.
As your body bobs, your head
also bobs forward on each count. The whole effect is jerky.
3. Straighten up to original position.
4. Bend forward from waist toward your partner, facing centre,
switching arms as you
do so.
5. Straighten to original position. Hands and head should
give impression of monkey holding two bananas.
6. Bend forward from waist to the right. Straighten to original
position.
7. Bob back to centre, bending at waist and again switching
hands.
8. Repeat entire pattern. Counts are double time, hitting
every accent in the music.
The
Chicken
1. Stand with feet together and put right heel out.
2. Jump back into place with right foot, landing with left
toe on ground, left heel raised.
3. Put heel of left foot out to left side.
4. Jump back in place with left foot, landing with right toe
on ground, right heel raised. Repeat over and over in place.
The body moves easily from side to side by dropping the opposite
shoulder each time the foot goes out.
The counts are 1-2-3-4. Repeat it over and over
Note: The hands are raised, the fingers snapping on the beat.
The dance featured lateral body movements
and was used primarily as a change of pace step while doing
The Twist.
The
Blue-Beat
Fly-away step 1
Swing step 1 Fly-away
(group)
Basic
Blue-Beat Swing (
same steps for boy and girl )
Stand with feet apart, hands held at side of body two or three
inches from side
1. Swing weight over onto left foot, both knees bending over
to the left, swinging arms across each other at the same time.
2. Swing weight over onto right foot, both knees bending over
to the right, uncrossing arms and swinging them wide open
away from body.
Continue this swinging movement left and right, keeping time
to the very definite background beat that you can hear in
all 'blue-beat' music. Keep arm swing sharp and defined.
Blue-Beat
Fly-Away ( can be danced before or after
the basic swing )
1. Straighten right knee, raising left foot in sharp, small
kick in front of right foot
2. Step onto left foot, lowering it in front of right foot
3-4. Transfer weight onto right foot, then left foot, in a
rocking action.
5. Straighten left knee, raising right foot in sharp, small
kick in front of left foot.
6. Step onto right foot, loering it in front of left foot.
7-8. Transfer weight onto left foot, then right foot, in a
rocking action.
What is Blue-Beat Rhythm?
Try Ezz Reco's 'Little Girl' or 'King Of Kings'
or 'Gypsy Woman' by Cosmo
The Pony is from Chubby Checker's "Pony Time". The beat
is 1&2, 3&4, etc, with the feet comfortably together. Various
arm and hand motions can be done when Pony-ing, and movement
on the dance floor can occur; however, there is no line-of-dance.
Couples do not touch, and they are generally facing each
other, but turns and chase positions are also possible.Counts
are 1 and 2 (right foot pony) 3 and 4 (left foot pony)
1. Stand normally
2. Jump to the right and land on your right foot leaving
the left foot in the air next to your ankle.
3. Step down on your left foot toes lifting up your right
foot at the same time.
4. Step down on your right foot lifting up your left foot
at the same time.
5. Jump to the left and land on your left foot leaving the
right foot in the air next to your ankle.
6. Step down on your right foot toes lifting up your left
foot at the same time.
7. step down on your left foot lifting up your right foot
at the same time.
8. Move your arms up when you are ponying on the right foot
and move them down on the left foot.
The
Madison / Madison Time
Typical music is 'The Madison Time' by The Ray Bryant Combo,
available on various CD compilations.
Click here
for samples. The tune is in regular 4/4 time.
The dance consists of a basic step and a series of figures.
Each figure occupies a fixed number of beats, but they are
all different. Don't expect the figures to start on the
first beat of a bar or at the beginning of a phrase as they
go all across the music.
The basic step occupies 6 beats or one and a half bars,
so the step weaves pleasantly in and out of the tune. Always
complete the basic step you're doing, then go straight into
the figure, whatever the tune may be doing.
The
Basic Madison Step (1.5 bars)
It's six beats and it goes like this. Step; close; step; tap;
tap; tap.
Stand slightly sideways with your left shoulder to the front.
(1) Step LF to the side.
(2) Close RF to LF without weight and clap.
(3) Step back on RF to place.
(4) Cross LF in front of RF and tap.
(5) Uncross LF and tap.
(6) Cross LF in front and tap.
On the clap, reach forward with both arms. On the taps raise
the hands to shoulder level and wave from side to side.
More
Madison Figures
Two Up, Two Back, Big, Strong Turn(X) (4
bars)
Chasse to the left (L, R, L, pause) then the chasse to the
right (R, L, R, pause). Turn anticlockwise on the spot with
4 steps (2 beats per step), L, R, L, R.
During the turn, flourish the arms, raising the R arm with
the R leg.
Two Up, Two Back, Double Cross, Rifleman (R) (5.5
bars)
Chasse left and right as before. Walk forward with 4 steps
(2 beats per step) crossing free leg in front of the other.
Drop down (2 beats).
Jump up and shoot the rifle (2 beats). Step forward LF.
Step back RF, then back to the basic.
M and Erase It (M) (8 bars)
Trace the letter M on the floor with chasses to the left
and right. There are 4 chasses to draw the M and another
4 to erase it.
T Time (T) (2.5 bars)
Chasse to the left and close with RF. Star jump to arms
outstretched (T) position. Jump back to normal arms down
position.
Chasse right to place, extending arms on each step R.
Cleveland Box (C) (4 bars)
This is a box step, but it's a bit more complicated than
the 4 step box used by line dancers and The Shadows.
Imagine a compass rose on the floor about 18 inches across.
You start, not in the centre, but at the S mark, and visit
four points around the circle, as follows:
Step LF to SW. Close RF. Step LF to NW. Step RF to NE. Close
LF. Step RF to SE. Step LF to SW. Close RF. Each step is
two beats.
Where's the pattern in that, you may ask. Well, you need
to visit each of the four points by stepping onto each then
closing with the free foot. However, in some cases a close
will put you on the wrong foot for the next side step. You
therefore omit the close when it would trip you up on the
next step. Try it and see.
Whilst you're doing this you bend forward from the waist
and revolve the hands rapidly around each other. When you
close with the feet you don't simply bring the feet together.
You bring your free foot directly behind the standing foot
and spring on to it, knocking away the other foot.
On every close, you stand upright, then bend forward for
the next step. Needs a bit of practice, but don't ask me
to demonstrate!!
Basketball with the Wilt Chamberlain Hook (W) (3
bars)
Chasse to the left dribbling the ball. Jump to shoot the
hoop turning anticlockwise (2 beats). Jump back clockwise
to front (2 beats).
Chasse back to the right, calling out the score. ("Two points").
Jackie Gleason (J) (2.5 bars)
Chasse to the left. Throw R leg out to the front, then swing
it back in front of L leg. Launch forward on to RF with
arms outstretched (2 beats). ("Awaaaaay we go").
Step L, Step back R to place.
Birdland (B) (6.5 bars)
Totally freeform. Walk around doing various bird impressions
as you wish.
Two Up, Two Back, Double Cross and Freeze (F) (4.5
bars)
Chasse to the left and right. Walk forward crossing free
leg in front (2 beats per step). Freeze.
La
Yenka
A Spanish oddity from 1964
by Johnny and Charley
The
Block
Crouch
down with arms slightly bent, palms facing down. Quickly
place one foot in front of the other and twist your heel
as it lands.
Spin round on your heels and improvise a bit of fancy footwork.
The
Hitch Hike
With
feet firmly placed, bend knees slightly and shake your hips.
Place your hands at your sides and fist them,
leaving thumb open and pointing up. Move arms up and down
alternately, jerking your fist over your shoulder.
Then, occasionally, jerk both fists together over one shoulder
and jump to either side. Also,
see below for more instructions
The
Shake
Stand
with one foot firmly in front of the other, stretch your
arms out and swing from side to side while nodding your
head.
Shake your upper body from the hips, occasionally jumping
to one side or the other.
With
feet slightly apart, crouch down with arms bent and fists
clenched. Move body and arms backwards and forwards with
the beat.
Jerk clenched fists over shoulders alternately similar to
Hitch Hike movement and jump to the left or right.
The
Ska
'"Milk
a cow" with your hands from a crouched position, swaying
from the hips. Keep the rhythm, moving slowly up and down,
occasionally lifting one foot up high. The Stricken Chicken
- Don't wait for Oktoberfest. Bend your arms so that both
elbows
stick out at a 90-degree angle. Flap your arms like wings
while squeezing your knees together and strutting around.
It only sounds silly, it looks cool! Ska
variations are:
Jamaican
Ska Step (A+B):
The upper half of the body (waist up) keeps the beat
by bowing forward with a straight back and a slight
bend in the knees as in B.
At the first bow the arms extend out to the sides
A. At the second bow the arms cross in front of the
body B.
The body straightens up in the change from one position
to the other. Continue in this way for the basic Ska
step done on the spot.
For the basic side step, turn to the right by moving
the right leg on the extension of the arms A then
bringing up the left leg on the closing of the arms
B.
Then to the left by doing the same with the left leg.
The basic 'body beat' continues to be done during
these moves.
Ska Rowing (C+D):
A similar action to rowing a boat is carried out facing,
or alongside, your partner.
The first step is to reach out with the arms C keeping
both back and legs perfectly straight to form an angle
at the waist.
Pull back D by throwing the upper body, from the knees up,
backwards.
The Ska beat is maintained first with the forward movement
in C and then the backward movement in D.
The weight of the body is shiffted alternately from right
to left on each pull back action.
If done properly, the heavy Ska beat is on the pull back
action D.
Ska
Riding (E+F):
Ska riding is similar to the action of riding a horse. Both
dancers pretend to be riding a horse by making a pumping
action with the hands in front of the body while at the
same time bending the knees E.
The bend of the knees and the push out of the hands are
done together on the fast guitar beat.
Occasionally, as in F, one hand is used to 'whip your horse',
again done in time with the beat.
The
Limbo
Dancers move to a Caribbean rhythm, then lean backwards
and 'dance' under a horizontal stick without touching it.
Upon touching it, or falling backwards, the dancer is "out".
When several dancers compete, they travel in single file
and the stick is gradually lowered until only one dancer,
who has not touched either the stick or the floor, remains.
The
Shimmy
The Shimmy is a dance in which the body is held still, except
for the shoulders, which are alternated back and forth.
When the right shoulder goes back, the left one comes forward.
It may help to hold the arms out slightly bent at the elbow
and, when the shoulders are moved, keep the hands in the
same position.
The
Freddie
You simply just stand in one place! Then, in rhythm with
the music, first extend the left leg and left arm; then
the right leg and right arm (not all at once - you'll fall
over!) Repeat until the song's conclusion.
The
Mouse
Is another monkey variation. Put your thumbs to your ears,
wiggle your fingers, put your upper teeth over your lower
lip-and keep the beat with your knees.
That's the whole mouse.
The
Locomotion
Slide, touch, slide, touch, slide, touch, slide, touch.
Lock steps for eight counts. Walk forward with a kick, walk
back with a stomp. Hop forward, hop back, hop forward, hop
back, hop forward, hop back with a one-quarter right turn.
Got it? Begin again.
Peyton
Place After Midnight
Extend your left arm in front of your body as if you're
holding reins. Wave your right arm in a circular motion
above your head while galloping in place for two counts.
Bend slightly at the waist and stick out your rear. Make
the circular arm motion by your knees while continuing to
gallop in place for two counts.
The Jerk
This is basically the Monkey, but with your arms and hands
moving as if you're leading a band - crossing your wrists
in front of your chest, then sweeping out-in time, or at
half time, with your body movement, to the count of four.
Your hands are up at face level. On count 1, the outward
sweep, "push" your hands out into the outward sweep, giving
a jerky motion. For a little more style, snap your fingers
on the two outward movements - the first and third counts
of your hand motion.
Step One: Stand in a fighter's stance facing your partner,
with your feet apart and your knees bent. Hold your hands
so that they are out on either side of your body, with your
hands about level with your face.
Step Two: Bend forward with your body toward your partner
and turn to your left. As you do so, cross your hands before
you at the wrists. The hands should still be held up at
the same level. Remember to bob your head forward as you
bend your body.
Step Three: Straighten your body and spread your hands wide
again.
Step Four: Lean forward again toward your partner, turn
to the centre and cross your hands in front of you. Bow
your head as you bend forward.
Step Five: Raise yourself up straight again, spread your
arms wide then repeat the above steps to the right.
Step Six: Vary the steps a little by snapping your fingers
as you throw out your hands.
Step Seven: Check yourself out in a mirror - you should
be looking like a rather jerky monkey conducting a band!
The
Bunny Hop
The participants dance in a line, holding on to the hips
of the person in front of them. They tap the floor two times
with their right foot, then with their left foot, then they
hop forwards, backwards, and finally three hops forward
to finish the sequence, which continues throughout the song.
The first person in the line leads the group around the
floor, much like a conga.
The
Boston Monkey
Feet together, knees bent. Body bent from the waist. Hands
in front of you, palms down, at waist level. Movement: Hips
to the left, hips to the right. You push your right hip
out and slightly back, at the same time moving your hands
to the left. You push your left hip out and slightly back,
at the same time moving your hands to the right. All done
bobbing, monkey-like.
The
Stroll
Form two lines, men on one side, facing the women on the
other. The first man and woman make their way down the line,
strutting their stuff to the end of the row where they separate,
with the man rejoining the men's aisle and the woman lining
up with the women. Then the next couple make ther way down
the line. Meanwhile, the people in the line move to the
music and try to look real cool.
The
Bug
1. Form a circle
2. Get in the circle
3. Combat the rug
4. Start scratchin'
5. Pass the bug
6. Repeat steps 1-5
Stomp
right forward, stomp left forward. Heel, hook, heel, together.
Heel split, hitch left. Charleston kicks. Left step forward,
kick right, right together, stomp left. Point, sway, step,
sway. Vine left with one-quarter counter-clockwise turn,
hitch right knee. Walk back, stomp right two times. Keep
going!
Yes... steps 3 and 5 are a bit of a mystery to me as well....so thanks to 'Ed' for some clarification. He writes:
The dance begins by forming a circle. Everyone in the
circle dances in place. One person gets into the centre
of the circle and begins dancing, swatting and scratching
like they have a bug in their clothes. The dancer in the
circle then 'catches the bug' and 'throws' it onto someone
else who is in the circle. This person moves into the centre
of the circle and the first dancer moves back to the circle.
It's a lot of fun, but the song generally needs to be played
several times to make it really enjoyable as 'The Bug' is
only a 2 minute 15 second song.
The
Roach
Thanks again to 'Ed' who writes: " You can get a good feel for this dance by watching
John Water's 'Hairspray' - the original film from the late
80s (The Bug is also part of this film). I'm unsure of the
entire nature of the dance, but I do know that it starts
with a line. There is a stomping, squishing motion with
the feet and an arm movement like you are 'fumigating' to
kill a roach. The lyrics to the song say "You stomp, step,
skip, 2,3,4,5,6,7, you stomp, step, skip, 2,3,4,5,6,7, you
stomp, step, skip, 2,3,4,5,6,7, you stomp, step, skip, 2,3,4,5,6,7,
squish, squash, kill that roach." This suggests that it
may have been a box-style dance since there are so many
steps. Not sure that this helps much..." The
Waddle
1. Shake the water off your back
2. Strut your stuff
3. Get up,get loose
4. Walk choppy like a long-neck goose
The
Hand Jive
This is usually performed to fast rock'n'roll music so each
movement in this sequence needs to be done in rapid succession
- keeping in time to the music - the faster the better! It can
be done while sitting down or standing up and can get you quite
confused and out of sequence after a while so, although simple,
needs to be well-practised.
Begin the dance by slapping your open palms on the tops of your
thighs twice. Clap your hands twice. Put your hands out with
the palms facing down and wave the right hand over the top of
the left hand twice then switch hands and wave the left over
the right twice. Make a fist with each hand with the thumbs
over the fingers and facing each other. Take the right fist
and tap the top of the left fist twice then switch hands and
tap the right fist with the left fist twice. Flip your thumbs
up and make a hitchhiking gesture with your right hand, jerking
the thumb over your right shoulder twice. Do the same thing
with your left hand then repeat from step 1 for the duration
of the song.
The
Swim
Essentially, you do The Twist or The Pony with
your hips and legs while doing all sorts of swimming (or diving)
motions with your hands.
Move your arms in a swimming motion as you continue moving your
lower body. Bring your right arm behind your body and circle
it toward your head with the elbow bent. Extend your hand straight
forward in line with your ear and repeat the motion with your
other arm. Act like you are jumping into a swimming pool or
the ocean. Hold your nose with one hand and wave your free arm
back and forth. Bend your knees and lower your body so it looks
like you're ducking under the waves (this style of arm movement
works best with The Twist). Add backstrokes to your lower body
movement. Keep your arms straight and your fingers together.
Circle your arm in front of your body and back toward your head.
Tilt your torso back slightly so it looks like your strokes
are propelling you backward. Alternate between different kinds
of "strokes" as you dance. Try mixing and matching the different
lower body movements with the swimming motions of your arms
and add your own variations to the steps by bending your arm
a different way or altering the speed at which you dance.
The Wrangler Stretch
1.
Hands reach above head - 2 counts
2. Swing arms left and pull twice as if pulling on a rope
- 2 counts, 1 each pull
3. Swing arms right and repeat 'pull' as in 2
4. Bend your knees and stretch up with hands to waist
as if pulling on jeans - 2 counts
5. Repeat steps 1 through 4
6. Do steps 1, 2 3, then back to 2
7. Bend your knes - arms down at knees - palms down, fingers
intertwined, gradually stretch body and arms up for 4counts
(on 4th count hands are above head ion full stretch)
8. While hands are above head, shake hips - 4 counts
These are the best I can provide at the moment . . . . with
a great many thanks to the interest, input and generosity of
Denver
Thing
of the past? No sir, the Sixties dance scene is still hugely
alive and rockin'! Check out this great site (click
on image)
'Little Miss Go-Go' presented by Kathy of The Hipster Go-Go
Dancers - who has a great love of the 1960's and has done
so most of her life. For over two decades she has been involved
in a variety of events, mainly around Melbourne, Australia
concerning 1960's music and dance. Brits - If you fancy
a go and want to learn some fab stuff..... have a look at
this!
Dance Resources
Active
Videos
Christy
Lane
60s Instructional
Dance Videos
Amazon Link
use 'search'
ISTD2
Dance Studios
First Floor Studio 346 Old Street
London, EC1V 9NQ Nearest Tube: Old Street Sixties
go-go classes every Monday night 6.30pm £8 per class
no pre-booking necessary, just show up!
Kathy
Blake's - Let's Learn How To Dance series Party Dances 1960
Kathy Blake gives an in depth demonstration of her versions
on how to do some of the popular party dances from the 1960's.
She'll show you how to do the Frug, some Go-Go Dancin', Mashed
Potatoes, Monkey, Pony and Swim. She'll also take you through
some practice and give you tips on what to do with your arms
and legs. Amazon
Link - use 'search'
The World Famous Pontani Sisters - Go-Go Robics
Cabaret Queens Angie, Helen and Tara give you an aerobics
work out at the same time showing you their versions of some
popular 1960's dances. They also throw in some of their own
made up steps. Original dances shown are the Hully Gully,
Mashed Potato, Pony and Twist. Amazon
Link - use 'search'
Still here?
What are you waiting for . . . . . . go and practice!
The 60s fad for
new dances brought us such wondrous things as:
The
45
The Aba Daba Do Dance
The Adler Sock
The Afro Twist
The Agent 007 Dance
The Alabama Shake
The Alley Cat
The Alley Oop
The Alligator
The Ants
The Arthur
The Baby Baby
The Baby Walk
The Baby Beatle Walk The Baby Workout
The Bad Baboon
The Banana Split
The Bang
The Barefootin'
The Barracuda
The Bastella The Batman The Bat-Tusi
The Beatle Boogie
The Beatle Bounce
The Beatle Stomp The Beetle Squash
The Beguine
The Behemoth The Bend It!
The Big City Stomp
The Big Egg The Billy-Jo The Bird
The Black Stomp The Blakes Beat The Block The Blue Beat
The Blue Chip
The Bolaro
The Bombay
The Bombie The Boney Maroney
The Bongo Hop The Boo-Ga-Loo
The Boogaloo Popeye
The Boogler
The Boomerang
The Booty Green
The Bop
The Boss Walk The Bossa Nova
The Boston Hop The Boston Monkey The Bounce The Brain The Breakdown
The Broadway Walk The Bristol Stomp
The Broken Hip The Bug
The Bull Nose Stomp
The Bumpsi The Bunny Hop The Burn
The Bushman The Bus Stop
The Calypso Dance The Camel Walk
The Camel Walk Stroll
The Capri
The Carnaby
The Cat Walk The Caterpillar The Cha Jerk
The Charge
The Charleston Fish
The Cheater Stomp The Chicken
The Chicken-Back
The Chill
The Chiller
The Chiller Limbo
The Chin-A-Ling The Choo Choo
The Cinnamon Cinder The Clam The Clap Boo Ga loo
The Claw
The Cleopatra Cha Cha
The Cleopatra Stroll The Click The Climb The Cling
The Clyde
The Coco Cherry Mash The Coffee Grind
The Congo
The Continental
The Continental Mash
The Continental Walk
The Continental Whip
The Cool Broadway
The Cool Jerk The Cool Off
The Cool Shake
The Cotton
The Count
The Cow
The Crack Up The Crawl
The Crazy Chicken
The Creamy Mashed Potato The Crossfire
The Crown
The Cruise
The Crumble The Crusher
The Cum-A-La-Be-Stay
The Danceannette
The Dartell Stomp
The Del Viking
The Dip
The Dipsey Dooble The Dirt The Dirty Boogie
The Dirty Dog
The Discophonic Walk The Dish Rag
The Doctors Boogie The
Dog
The Dogin
The Donkey Step
The Donkey Stroke
The Donkey Trot
The Donkey Twine
The Donkey Walk
The Doolang
The Doublemint
The Drag
The Drum Stomp
The Drunkard The Duck
The Duck Walk The Ebb'n'Flow The Egyptian
The Egyptian Shumba The Eighty One
The El Cable
The El Matador
The El Watusi The Elephant Walk
The Everything
The Fatman
The Fine Twine The Finger Poppin' The Fish
The Fish Tail
The Fish Walk
The Fishin' Pole The Flake
The Flapper Flip The Flea
The Flick
The Flintstone Flop
The Flip
The Flip Flop
The Float The Fly
The Foot Stomping
The Footsee The Fox The Frankenstein Walk The Freddie The Fridge The Frug
The Fumigate Funky Broadway The Funky Broadway
The Funky Bull
The Funky Horse
The Funky Jerk
The Funky Mississippi
The Funky Walk
The Gallop
The Gator
The Gawk'n'Stroll
The Gene Chandler The Georgia Slop The Get Down
The Get-E-Up
The Ginza
The Glide
The Goat
The Go Go
The Goblin Trot
The Good Time Stomp
The Goodfoot
The Goose The Gorilla
The Granny The Gremmie
The Grind
The Guitar Boogie Stomp
The Gully
The Hammer The Handjive Workout The Hanky Panky
The Harlem Shuffle
The Harlem Tango The Heat Wave
The Hip
The Hippies Waltz The Hippy Hippy Shake The Hitch Hike
The Hitch-It-To-Horse The Hitler The Hokey Pokey
The Honey Dipper The Hoochi Coochi Coo
The Hook And Sling
The Hootch The Hop
The Hop Scotch
The Hornet
The Horse
The Hot Pastrami The
Hucklebuck The Huddle
The Hula
The Hullabaloo
The Hullaballoon
The Hully Gully
The Hully Gully Bongo
The Hully Gully Rock The Humphrey Stomp
The Hunch The Jerk
The Jersey Bounce The Jitterbug The
Jive
The Jivin' Around
The Joogie Boogie
The Jordan Stomp
The Jump
The Jump And Hump
The Junkernoo The Kangaroo
The Karate Monkey
The King Kong's Monkey
The Klak Stick Kick
The Koo Koo The Krunch The Letkiss
The Letkiss Trot
The Letkiss Walk The Limbo The Limbo Rock The Locomotion The Loddy-Lo
The Lone Star Stomp The Loop De Loop The
Lowdown Popcorn
The Luau The
Lurch
The Madison
The Magoo
The Majestic
The Malibu The Mambo
The Mambo Boogie
The Manhattan Stomp The March Of The Mods
The Martian Hop
The Marvel
The Mash
The Mashi The Mashed Potato
The Mashed Potatoes Popcorn
The Mashed Taters
The Massacre Stomp The Matador
The Merengue
The Mess Around The Mexican Hat Dance The Millie The Mint
The Mojo Workout The Molecule A-Go-Go The Monkey
The Monkey Bird
The Monkey Dog
The Monkey Donkey
The Monkey Hop
The Monkey Jerk
The Monkey Jump The Monkey Shine
The Monkey Stroll
The Monkey Walk
The Monkey Wobble The Monster Mash
The Mope
The Moppety Stomp
The Mother Goose
The Mother Popcorn
The Mountain Stomp The Mouse
The Mozart Stomp
The Mule
The Mumble Shing A Ling
The Munch
The Napoleon
The Nick Nack Hully Gully
The Night Stomp The Nitty Gritty
The Olympic Shuffle
The Oobie Doobie
The Ooh Poo Pah Doo
The Op
The Ops and Ops
The Ostrich The Pachanga
The Pata Pata The Pearl The Penguin
The Peppermint Twist
The Peter Gunn The Peyton Place After Midnight The Philly The Philly Dog
The Philly Freeze
The Philly Horse
The Philly Jerk
The Philly Walk The Pogo
The Polka The Polly Wolly The Pony
The Pony Horse
The Pony Rock
The Pony Tail
The Pony Walk
The Popcorn Poppin' The Popeye
The Popeye Line
The Popeye Shimmy
The Popeye Stroll
The Popeye Waddle
The Potato Mash
The Prance
The Pretzel
The Push The Push And Pull
The Pyramids Stomp
The Ray Charles-Ton
The Razzle Dazzle
The Rebel Walk
The Reel
The Rendezvous Stomp
The Rhumba Boogie
The Rib
The Rifle The Roach
The Robbie
The Rock
The Rock And Roll The Rocksteady
The Roman
The Romp
The Rooster Walk
The Rosko
The Rosy
The Royal Whirl
The Rubberneck (Rubberneckin')
The Rush Hour Stomp
The Scotch The Scrape The Scratch
The Scratchin'
The Screw
The Scrogg
The Scrubs
The Scrumble
The Seaside
The Seesaw
The Shaggy Dog The Shake
The Shake A Tail Feather
The Shake And Shingaling
The Shake And Stomp
The Shake Around
The Shake Rattle Snake
The Shaky Bird The Shampoo
The Shilly Dilly The Shimmy
The Shimmy Watusi
The
Shing-A-Ling
The Shing-A-Ling-A-Loo
The Shing-A-Ling Stroll
The Shoddy Shoddy The Shotgun
The Shotgun Boogie
The Shotish The Shout The Shovel
The Shuffle
The Sightseein'
The Simon Says
The Sissy Strut
The Sit Down Dance
The Sizzle The Ska
The Skate
The Skate Boogaloo
The Skip The Slauson
The Slide The Slime
The Slip And Slide
The Slop
The Slop And Slide
The Sloppy-Twist-A-Fish
The Slosh The Slow Dance
The Slow Fizz
The Slow Jerk
The Slow Locomotion The Slurp
The Smashed Potato
The Smock The Snacky Poo The Snake The Snake Hips
The Snake Walk
The Sosh
The Soul Clap
The Soul Stomp
The Soul Twine
The Soulful Jerk
The Spanish Strut
The Spanns Stomp
The Spider Walk
The Spin
The Split The Stereo Freeze
The Stomp
The Stop
The Stop Touch
The Strand
The Stretch The Stroke The Stroll
The Strut
The Struttin'
The Stupidity The Surf
The Surfer Boogie
The Surfer Stomp
The Surfin' Bird The Surfink
The Suzie The Sway The Swim
The Swing
The Swish Fish The Switch
The Switch-A-Roo
The Switchy Walk
The Tango The Tantrum
The Tarzan's Monkey
The Teenagers Waltz The Temptation Walk
The Thaxton
The Thing
The Tiger
The Tiger Walk The Tighten Up
The Tip Toe
The Train Stomp
The Trot The Turkey Trot The Twine
The Twirl
The Twist
The Twist And Freeze
The Twist And Limbo
The Twitch
The Two-Step
The Ubangi Stomp The Uncle Willie
The Underdog Backstreet
The Underwater
The Unwind Twine The Wa-Wabble The Waddle
The Wah-Watusi The Wak-A-Cha The Walk
The Wallop
The War Canoe
The Wash The Watusi
The Watusi Wussi''Wo The Weasel
The Wedge
The Werewolf Watusi
The Whammy
The Whatchama Call It
The Wheel The Whip The Whiplash
The Whirl
The Whisk
The Whoopee
The Wibble
The Wiggle Wobble
The Wild Stomp
The Wild Weekend The Wobble
The Wobble Drum
The Wobble Lou
The Worm The Wrangler Stretch The Yo-Yo
The Yuletide Jerk
The Zig Zag The Zizzle
The Zonk
(
Thanks again to Denver
for many of the UK and American Sixties dances listed above)