Dance+in+the+20's

Dance in the 1920’s

The Roaring Twenties were a time of recklessness, risk-taking, boozing, smoking, and partying. A main part of the partying was the dancing, which was no longer a formality like waltzing for the High Society. Dance was now spread to every class, and to both genders. Because of the Great War, women had to take over men’s jobs because the men were off fighting in the war, and thus the women gained independence that no longer restricted them to the kitchen. Women gained the right to vote, and were beginning to speak their mind. Since they had this voice, they were more allowed to express themselves in the arts without as much criticism. Along with this new freedom came shorter skirts and bobbed hair, and roaring dancing came with this new style. With these shorter skirts, dancers were more free to move around and weren’t restricted by puffy sleeves, tight corsets, long skirts, and extensive trailing trains. The old style dancing of the early 1900’s, such as the tango and the waltz, were considered provocative because they involved contact with the dancer’s partner, but were soon deemed acceptable by the American public. Now that the 20’s were coming around, partner contact was the norm. The female dancers no longer kept a stiff upper body as they had before, but now shook their shoulders and torsos and threw their arms up in recklessness. Dance was a large part of entertainment, and the main part of parties or other social events. People saw the dances in Hollywood movies or at shows, and they would play the songs on records to learn the dances themselves and then perform the dance they learned at parties, night clubs, or school gymnasiums. Dance, being an activity for fun-loving people, was a huge part of the Roaring Twenties. People let loose and loved life, and dance helped them to do so. It helped them relax and enjoy life as they should.

http://www.1920-30.com/dance/

Kelli Aarstad