During the 40’s-50’s you would pick up your partner and swing them left to right, over your head, and between your legs to do the swing. There was the stroll and the cha cha.
In the 60’s you would grind your foot (as if grinding a cigarette butt under your toe) to do the mashed potatoes. Other famous dances included the monster mash, the twist and the locomotion.
In the 80’s it was moving across the floor like Michael Jackson doing the moonwalk, imitating a robot, breaking, locking and popping. In the 90’s you would tootsie roll or butterfly.
Now one of the new dances on the streets and in the clubs is the jerk.
It has been wondered whether or not a new dance revolution has evolved with new moves sweeping the nation. There are dances like the jerk, booty doo, stanky leg, Ricky Bobby, Halle Berry and others that now have young and old out on the dance floor.
It is evident that every decade is introduced to a new dance inspired by a song or movie.
Some people may debate whether or not there is a new dance revolution. Bobbie Boyd, 61, sits and reminisces about the dances of her youth.
“I can’t remember my favorite dance because we used to do it all,” said Boyd.
Boyd said at recent family functions she sees all the young folks get up to their favorite song and dance it out. When asked her views on the younger generation’s dances, she replied, “they’re crazy,” laughing and thinking of when she was younger. “They probably said the same thing about us.”
Boyd keeps current with new dances because of her nieces and nephews.
“Now they’re coming out with the stanky leg,” Boyd said. “I tried to do it but I guess I wasn’t doing it right.”
Little does Boyd know there are areas around the city that will help those interested in the new dances as well as revisiting the old.
Andrea Newman is a hip-hop dance instructor at Dance Expressions dance studio. She said her students always ask her about new dances.
“The kids always come in saying ‘Miss Andrea what is this song about and what is the new dance,’” said Newman.
Newman shared that a reason she thinks kids are more compelled to dance is because of their peers and media influences.
“I think a lot of younger kids see it on TV,” Newman said. “It is shows like America’s Best Dance Crew and So You Think You Can Dance, that push dancing to another level.”
Newman mentioned that in her hip-hop class there tends to be a lot more boys than girls, which may be a reason why so many young males are attracted to the dance craze. Groups such as the New Boyz, GS Boys and even Soulja Boy Tell Em are males that have created most of today’s new dances.
“They see dancing as the cool thing to do,” said Newman.
It is debatable as to whether or not this is considered a new dance revolution. To Newman it is just a continuous cycle that will always go on. Boyd agrees stating every generation has to have its own memories.
“It’s just a repeat of how my generation came up, with just a little twist in it,” Boyd said.
For more information about Dance Expressions call (317) 885-6191, email at Danceexp3130@aol.com or visit www.danceexpressions.biz.
Dance Expressions Inc.
3130 Meridian Parke Drive
Greenwood, IN 46142
Ste. E & G
Phone: (317) 855-6191
Fax: (317) 882-0385
Dance Expressions is conveniently located off of State Road 135, by the McDonald’s behind Kroger.
Dance Expressions offers a variety of classes for dancers of all ages.
Classes Offered:
Tap, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Pointe, Acrobatics and Pop
