Modern Dances

In the category "Modern Dances" all the dances are summarized, which are not standardized as compulsory dances and which follow actual fashion trends. Modern Dances spontaneously evolve from music, reflect their period and are document of the actual spirit of the age. Often Modern Dances turn a blind eye to rigid standards and break social taboos.

Charleston Lambada Bossa Nova Polka Rheinländer Rock'n'Roll Swing Twist

Charleston

Lambada

At the beginning of the 20th century, Modern Dances were imported from the United States and South America. In 1889 the American band leader John Philip Sousa created the Washington Post March, a Twostep in 6/8-time with fast steps and hops. Ragtime based on the black American music came into being at the end of the 19th century. From 1911 to 1915 its vivid syncopated rhythm supported the evolution of funny dances imitating animals. But in these times Tango was very popular as well.

Bossa Nova

Polka

Rheinländer

The social and political alterations of the age were reflected in the vivid changes of actual dancing styles. The dances of the first two decades of the 20th century, like Charleston, corresponded with the euphoria of the times after the first World War. In the thirties with 'Swing' a new music style came into being. It was played by Jazz musicians like Benny Goodman and their big bands. In the time of economic depression lavish dancing films made by producers like Busby Berkeley and the movies with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers boomed. Jitterbug, a variant of Lindy Hop from 1927, was danced to Swing music. Foxtrot, a quick dance with walks, created about 1913, was revived in a slower, more flowing style. In 1939 at the World Fair, a Samba orchestra played in the Brazilian pavilion. From this a wave of enthusiasm evolved for dances like Rumba, Mambo, Cha-Cha-Cha and Conga.

Rock'n'Roll

Swing

Twist

In the middle of the fifties Rock'n'Roll was a national phenomenon in the United States. Elvis Presley thrilled the audience with his legendary hip swing. When Bill Haley, with his band The Comets, made his debut in the film Rock Around the Clock, a new wave of dancing enthusiasm was born. In these times a fundamental change of the American society took place, which in the following decade found its expression in the civil rights movement, in the protests against the Vietnam war and in the famous Woodstock music festival in the State of New York in 1969. In 1960 the Rock musician Chubby Checker introduced 'Twist'. Its twist of hips and upper torso was the physical expression of the ignorant attitude of the young generation.

Pair dancing appeared on the scene again in the seventies, such as Hustle and other dances, which were choreographed complicated and which were danced at disco music. After the disco era in the seventies and eighties the punk rock movement brought 'Slam' dancing and in the middle of the eighties acrobatic Breakdance mostly performed by a single dancer. The nineties are influenced by the raise of techno cult. At the same time in a nostalgic movement big-band-sound was revived, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz and Jitterbug were all the rage again.