The Origins of the Line DancerLine dancing might not be the first thing you think of when you think of dance, but it is a rich tradition that intersects with other genres of dance. The following excerpt is from the book "Line Dancing," by Angelique Fernandez and Karen Farrington. It goes over some of the history and mythology of line dancing.
Title: "Line Dancing" Author: Angelique Fernandez, Karen Farrington Excerpt: |
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Romantically-minded folk like to believe that 'Forty-Niner' miners of the Californian gold rush whiled away their long evenings by line dancing in front of the camp fire. There are those who firmly declare that cowboys in the wild west were avid line dancers. Jesse James and the Younger boys may have been closet line dancers but there's absolutely no evidence that either them or any other gunslingers or ranchers were smitten with the tush push.
Bear in mind, too, that during the 19th century dancing alone or with a partner was regarded as unwholesome. In Colorado Territory during the last century there were 300 unfortunate dance masters hanged or tarred and feathered because of their 'inappropriate behaviour'.
It was out of German clog dancing, Irish country dancing and the entertainment made by the Afro American slaves that tap dancing emerged. The emphasis like Line Dancing was on foot and leg movements. From jazz dancing we get Line Dancing's jazz box.
At about the same time the Charleston swept America and this, too, has been included in the range of Line Dancing steps. Thirty years on the cha cha arrived from Cuba, an exotic notion that likewise has found a place in line dance.
Take a quick look too at barn and square dancing to find that bits of both folk dance forms have been imported into the line. Square dances had callers while line dances have instructors.
There are those who claim Line Dancing was born in Nashville while others believe it was spawned during a music festival hosted in a string of Arizona hotels. Perhaps the father of modern line dancing is Jim Ferrazzano who choreographed such classics as Tush Push, Waltz Across Texas and of course, Flying 8s.
His personal experience gives us the best insight into the recent history of line dancing. He learned his first line dance at a honky tonk when he was nine years old. At the time and throughout the sixties Line Dancing was known as 'outlaw dancing' performed to outlaw music. The roguish nature of the dancers had nothing to do with its title, however. It was because the dance was on the fringe, an underground movement kept well away from the mainstream. Fellow outlaws included Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
Excited by the possibilities revealed in early line dancing, Ferrazzano choreographed tush push in 1980 in Charleston, South Carolina. He received hate mail for his trouble, from those who were concerned that line dancing threatened the established country and western scene. A split between die-hard country and western fans and line dancers exists in some quarters to this very day.
One important emissary for Line Dancing was the US servicemen and women who helped to export the craze overseas. In tandem with this blossoming craze was a growing awareness of dance in general and its possibilities, which was constantly reinforced popular culture.
American Graffiti, in 1973, reminded people about the potential of the stroll. John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, released in 1978, enlivened an otherwise dreary urban tragedy with some exciting dance routines.
- from "Line Dancing" by Angelique Fernandez and Karen Farrington
Bear in mind, too, that during the 19th century dancing alone or with a partner was regarded as unwholesome. In Colorado Territory during the last century there were 300 unfortunate dance masters hanged or tarred and feathered because of their 'inappropriate behaviour'.
It was out of German clog dancing, Irish country dancing and the entertainment made by the Afro American slaves that tap dancing emerged. The emphasis like Line Dancing was on foot and leg movements. From jazz dancing we get Line Dancing's jazz box.
At about the same time the Charleston swept America and this, too, has been included in the range of Line Dancing steps. Thirty years on the cha cha arrived from Cuba, an exotic notion that likewise has found a place in line dance.
Take a quick look too at barn and square dancing to find that bits of both folk dance forms have been imported into the line. Square dances had callers while line dances have instructors.
There are those who claim Line Dancing was born in Nashville while others believe it was spawned during a music festival hosted in a string of Arizona hotels. Perhaps the father of modern line dancing is Jim Ferrazzano who choreographed such classics as Tush Push, Waltz Across Texas and of course, Flying 8s.
His personal experience gives us the best insight into the recent history of line dancing. He learned his first line dance at a honky tonk when he was nine years old. At the time and throughout the sixties Line Dancing was known as 'outlaw dancing' performed to outlaw music. The roguish nature of the dancers had nothing to do with its title, however. It was because the dance was on the fringe, an underground movement kept well away from the mainstream. Fellow outlaws included Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
Excited by the possibilities revealed in early line dancing, Ferrazzano choreographed tush push in 1980 in Charleston, South Carolina. He received hate mail for his trouble, from those who were concerned that line dancing threatened the established country and western scene. A split between die-hard country and western fans and line dancers exists in some quarters to this very day.
One important emissary for Line Dancing was the US servicemen and women who helped to export the craze overseas. In tandem with this blossoming craze was a growing awareness of dance in general and its possibilities, which was constantly reinforced popular culture.
American Graffiti, in 1973, reminded people about the potential of the stroll. John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, released in 1978, enlivened an otherwise dreary urban tragedy with some exciting dance routines.
- from "Line Dancing" by Angelique Fernandez and Karen Farrington