The+Charleston

  Dancing became a nation wide phenomenon during the 1920’s. The Charleston, a dance that began it all, was popular amongst many. The Pickwick Club in Boston fell to the ground killing forty-four people and injuring many others. It was speculated that the Charleston was to blame for the disastrous event that took place that day. The “stamping rhythm” was said to be too much for any building to handle, and it began the protest many dance halls were falling in step with. Since the Charleston was said to be dangerous, the dance halls were nervous to let their occupants participate in such a dance. The insane popularity the dance had among the population proved to be too strong for any dance hall to ban. Teachers from coast to coast were being forced to teach the Charleston to their students. Although many did not enjoy teaching the Charleston, what choice did they have? The dance was in demand and they had to please their customers. There had been similar cases of the Pickwick incident. Like all things, there were people who supported the Charleston and those who opposed it. Some said it to be “the dance of death,” while others said it to be harmless fun. The Charleston originally came from South Carolina and made its way to the city of Charleston where the negro population picked it up. Bee Jackson found the Charleston to be an electrifying addiction. She first saw it performed on Broadway in a color musical. From that moment on Jackson was hooked on the Charleston. By 1924 she was an expert at the Charleston, after taking dance lessons from Lyda Webb, and brought it to Broadway herself. The Charleston was a craze that spread like wildfire to people all across the country. Even though it was feared by some, no one could keep the Charleston out of their lives. When thinking back to the 1920’s, the Charleston comes to the minds of many.

  Kelsey Dailey