DANCE STYLE OF THE 60’S

With the beginning of the War in Vietnam, the continuing struggle with racial
segregation and the assassination of President Kennedy the United States began to see a shift
from the innocence of the 1950s to the “flower power” of the 1960s. During this period of civil
unrest, the nation’s youth sought comfort in dance. The dance styles brought to us in the 60s
were as “original” as they come. The Twist, the Mashed Potato, the Hully Gully, and the
Madison all started with one goal in mind: to liberate and recreate the way the world danced.
The Twist, made famous by Chubby Checker, took its first step in 1960. The inspiration
for this iconic dance can be traced back as far as the 1890s which came from an African
American plantation dance called “wringing and twisting”. When trying to teach the dance to
the audience, a member of Checker’s entourage came up with this description "It's like putting
out a cigarette with both feet, and wiping your bottom with a towel, to the beat of the music."
The twist lead the way for another popular dance craze which began in 1962, the Mashed
Potato.

FIGURE I: THE MASHED POTATO

FIGURE II: THE TWIST

The Mashed Potato became popular when songs such as Mashed Potato Time, (Do the) Mashed
Potato, and Mashed Potato in the U.S.A hit the airwaves. The dance is similar to the Twist with
the hip movements. To Mash Potato you must start with both heels tilted inward and with the
balls of your feet you swivel back and forth while moving your arms in a swinging motion.
James Brown made the dance iconic by performing his Mashed Potato hits all over the United
States.
The next styles of dances to hit the scene were line dances. The Hully Gully, is a series of
steps that are called out by the MC, which originated in the early 1960s by Frank Rocco. The
 steps were relatively easy to handle, the speed was the fun part. Rocco introduced this dance at
the Cadillac Hotel in Miami, Fl which lead way for many more dances just like it to come.
The Madison was probably the most popular line dance of the decade. The steps are as
follows, “Step left forward, place right beside left and clap, step back on right, move left foot
back and cross over right, move left foot left and back over to the right”. The iconic movie
Hairspray made the Madison a huge hit and its popularity eventually inspired dance teams and
competitions.

FIGURE III: THE HULLY GULLY FIGURE IV: THE MADISON

ICONIC DANCE MOVES OF THE 70’S

With all of the dance crazes that have swept through pop culture over the years, it can
be quite a task to remember them all. One era that arguably stood out from the rest was the
1970′s. A time period of major political and cultural shift helped to create a unique time of
artistic expression and creativity unlike any other before it. With so many new music trends
coming out, plenty of new dance trends soon followed. This helped create a demand for more
dance on TV with the addition of shows like Soul Train, which went on to shape dance, music
and pop culture well into the 21st Century. Dancing became even more important to this new
generation of club goers as more discotheques began to spring up all over the place. Known for
loud polyester clothing, platform shoes, and of course disco music, this era of free love and
flower power helped fuel some of the wildest dance crazes ever. Regardless of ones birth year,
people across many generations can easily identify specific fashions from the 70′s, but how
about the dances? Let’s have a look as we flash back to the funky 1970′s!

In 1975, singer Van McCoy told everyone to “Do The

FIGURE V: THE HUSTLE
today in ballrooms across the world.
Hustle!” in his popular song of the same name. The
song and dance became so big that the name hustle
became linked to most disco-style dances from that
time. As a result, there were many different styles of
hustle. West Coast vs. East Coast as well as partner
and line dance variations. The couples version
soared in popularity after being featured in the cult
classic film Saturday Night Fever. This mix of Swing
and Latin dance to a 70s disco beat is still performed

The Bump
Like many other dance crazes, the Bump was a simple dance that didn’t require learning a lot of
complicated steps. In fact, it only consisted of one main step! As pairs of dancer swayed to the
music while standing side by side, they would come together to bump hips about every other
beat of music. Even though the idea was to bump gently, smaller dancers would often be sent
flying across the dance floor by heavier dancers who bumped too hard! The dance also inspired
a few songs of the same name, but could be done to just about any song.
Much like a nursery rhyme, this song is
loved by children (and adults) everywhere,
and has a simple, catchy hook that is hard to
get out of your head.
The iconic 1978 song “YMCA” by The Village
People, spawned the popular dance that is
one of the few which does not require the
use of ones feet. Participants need only
move their arms to form the letters Y, M, C, FIGURE VI: YMCA DANCE
A, whenever those letters are sung in the
lyrics. People generally skip around and freestyle during other parts of the song. This dance is so
catchy, simple and fun for all that is still commonly done today, primarily in the stands at
sporting games, weddings and other social events.

The Disco Finger

Another dance synonymous with the film Saturday Night Fever, this move required minimal
movement below the knees. Most people just imitate John Travolta’s stance with hips thrusting
from side to side as the right index finger rhythmically points from the floor moving back and
forth across the body up to the sky.

The Bus Stop

Not as simple for the rhythmically challenged, however still catchy and quintessential ’70s!

The Robot
Also sometimes called the Mannequin, this street dance often causes viewers to think they are
seeing an optical illusion, as the some of the movements are subtle yet impactful, and tough to
replicate. This is a dance style that typically takes years of practice to achieve much less master.
Starting in the 70′s alongside the growing break dancing scene, it skyrocketed to infamy as one
of Michael Jackson’s signature moves, and is still a staple in the hip-hop and pop worlds.

This four wall line dance was originally set to

Marcia Griffiths’ song “Electric Boogie“.
Created in 1976, it has gone on to become a
staple at weddings, concerts and other social
gatherings for decades. Its repetitious pattern
makes it easy to learn in a short time, and the
fact that it can be danced to a variety of music
genres allows it to fit well into a variety of
music and dance styles.
FIGURE VII: THE ELECTRIC SLIDE
BEST OF 80’S DANCES
We’re now in an era where everything old is new again. And while I’m not hoping that
any of these dances come back soon, here’s a primer if you’re in da club, surrounded by hip
shakers breaking out moves from yesteryear. If you have teenage kids, don’t try these within
their line of sight unless you want to find yourself committed into an old-age home 20 years
early.
The Running Man
Popularized by Janet Jackson, Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer, this dance involves you standing in
the same spot, shuffling your legs like a runner and moving your arms in a modified push up.
Watch that you don’t hit the guy next to you or there could be trouble.
The MC Hammer Dance
It’s unlikely that you’re going to hear someone yelling, ‘It’s Hammer time!’ but just in case they
do, wiggle your body like wet spaghetti, and shuffle your feet from side to side. Helpful hint:
Baggy pants are a plus.

This one is easy. Yeah right. Start with your right

hand out, then your left hand. Palms up, hands on
the back of your neck, hips continually shaking
and… repeat. This was a booze-filled blast to do in
the ‘90s. Try breaking this out at a holiday party
and you’re likely to find yourself on the naughty
list.

FIGURE VIII: THE MACARENA

The key is to keep your body stiff, like a robot.
Basically, your put your arms in front of you and then
to the side, keeping your body stiff and your face
expressionless. Bend over, moving your arms and legs
like a robot, then freeze in that position. Hold that
and then repeat the whole process.
It’s not possible to think back to dancing in the 80’s
without Michael Jackson moonwalking and making it
FIGURE IX: ROBOT DANCE
look so easy. Put on that glove, those white socks and

FIGURE X: MOONWALKING
get ready to try this dance. Lift your right leg and place the toes
of your right foot facing the floor, about a foot behind your left
leg. Next, find the balance that’s comfortable for you, such as
keeping your feet between three and six inches apart. Slide
your left heel back and into the floor while leaning back on your
right leg. Snap the heel of your left foot off the floor while your
right heel snaps the floor. Repeat the previous two steps as you
switch the roles of your left and right feet. To create the illusion
of moonwalking, move your head too.

The Cabbage Patch

Remember Cabbage Patch Dolls? There was also the Cabbage
Patch dance too. First, shift your ribs to the left, then circle your torso to the right. Go all the
way around, then put your arms out in front of you. Make fists with your hands and circle your
arms in front of you. Circle your entire body as you turn your arms and ribs. Go as fast as you
can.

Once again, the King of Pop reigns

supreme on the dance floor. The Thriller
video is still cool all these years later.
How do you do the Thriller dance? Act
like a zombie. Your movements should
be jerky, with lots of stomping and
swinging of your arms and legs. Slump
your shoulders a lot too, and make claws
with your hands as you swing them in
front of you. Scary faces go with this 80s
dance too, so have some fun.
FIGURE XI: THE THRILLER
PRESENT DAY DANCES
Ballet choreographers, such as George Balanchine, explored new ways of using traditional movement,
adapting the art form to the spirit of the times. Choreographers also blended ballet and modern dance
movement.

In the 1960s, a post-modern revolution began that challenged the most fundamental notions of
theatrical dance. Choreographer Yvonne Rainer wrote a manifesto that rejected artifice in dance. Beauty,
athletic technique and decoration were out. Conceptual dance was in. The opening of western eyes to
the inherent value of cultures around the world has resulted in a more global appreciation of different
forms of artistic expression, including dance. Many forms, once considered ritual, folk or street dance,
now regularly appear on the concert stage, in works by artists such as Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe and
Rennie Harris.

Western European dance has undergone its own evolution. Many choreographers, including Pina Bausch
and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, place more emphasis on personal theatrical expression, use stylized forms of
everyday movement and draw on various artistic disciplines such as film, to create works with strong
emotional resonance.

Today's audiences enjoy an extraordinary variety of dance, traditional and innovative, with movement
drawn and blended from many different cultures. Choreographers from diverse cultural backgrounds,
exposed to an ever-expanding range of movement ideas, continue to experiment and develop theatrical
dance. For artists and audiences alike, the future of dance promises to be a dynamic and exciting
adventure.

Popping

A form of urban dance originating in California in the late 1970s, involving rhythmic contractions of the
dancer's muscles to accent the beat, usually performed to funk music

Locking (originally Campbellocking)

A style of funk dance, which is today also associated with hip hop. The name is based on the concept of
locking movements, which basically means freezing from a fast movement and "locking" in a certain
position, holding that position for a short while and then continuing in the same speed as before.

Break dancing

FIGURE XII: BREAK DANCE

 A style of dancing that grew up around hip hop music during
its early stages of development in the United States. 'Break
dancing' stretched the human body to its limit. The most
basic breakdance moves are the 6-step and top rock.

Contemporary dance

It doesn´t have fixed or established movement patterns but it’s rather in a continuous search for new
forms and dynamics. Therefore its dancers make use of varied modern and classical dance techniques to
train. It produces performances or shows in conventional and non-conventional stages (such as theaters
or public and private places), having a frequent dialogue with other aesthetic languages such as
audiovisual technologies, visual or fine arts, lightning, architecture, music, circus and others.

Krump

The dance known as Krumping is a street dance popularized in the

United States that is characterized by free, expressive, exaggerated,
and highly energetic movement.

FIGURE XIII: KRUMPING

Broadway dance

Can be defined as the incorporation of ballet, jazz and modern dance styles with theater and singing. At
its beginnings, people were intrigued with Broadway Theater because it was the first time dance was an
integral component of a play's plot. Because theater critics did not approve of Broadway as a serious
type of theater in its first few decades, its creators were known as "gypsies" until successful productions
proved otherwise.

Jazz

One of the most common types of modern dance practiced by

lots of dance enthusiasts from all over the world. This is a kind
of dance which is composed of different movements like
gymnasts, jumps, and other movements. Usually, pupils of jazz
classes are assembled at the center of the dance room and they
are asked to perform simple stretching and related movements.

Interpretative Dance
FIGURE XIV: JAZZ

FIGURE XV: INTERPRETATIVE

This comes with dramatic movements which are
based on the lyrics of the music as well as the
emotion of the song. This requires some degree of
the body flexibility to the dancer. This is because
some pieces of the interpretative dances might be
too complex. Dancers who want to master
interpretative dance are asked to undergo drama
classes. This is needed in order to make the dance
become pleasing and alluring.

END
References:
1. http://sites.google.com/site/lookingbackatthe1960s/home/culture/dance-styles-of-the-60s
2. http://www.atomicballroom.com/blog/2015/05/12/funky-flashback-popular-1970s-dance-
moves/
3. http://www.artsalive.ca/en/dan/meet/dancethroughtime.asp
4. http://www.slideshare.net/Melvolio/types-of-modern-dance