American Dance: The Complete Illustrated History

I’m not a fan of dancing myself, but I loved this book. I portrays dancing styles as a way of studying the history of the USA, from the Colonial era to present. If you look at all the different styles, you’ll see that they reflect the norms and mores of the time, along with class distinctions and the nation’s economy.

The book starts with Native American dancing, which probably resembles the Jewish ones than European. The men and women danced separately, and it was usually ceremonial or religious in nature. The idea of men and women dancing together is something that originated in Europe, and came to the continent with European settlers. However the European dances would become a source of trouble, though humorous at the same time.

When the Louisiana Purchase was made in 1804, it brought French settlers under Anglo-American control, and the dances became a source of conflict. The French wanted the Quadrille, and the English-speakers wanted English country dances. The communities had to pass ordinances regarding dancing in public places, including one that limited English dances to 12 couples. They didn’t want to start a fight with the French by crowding the dance floor!

The book progresses with constant-changing styles that became common after the Civil War. New York City was home to the country’s best-known dancing school, owned by Edward Ferrero, who created the styles on his own. You could say he set the standards regarding dances, but he also was responsible for thousands of deaths. During the Civil War, Ferrero was put in charge of the New York troops, on the basis of his choreographing parade drills. He was drunk during the battle of Petersburg, and sent his men running into a crater, where they found themselves trapped and massacred by the Confederates. Ferrero’s incompetence in battle didn’t kill his career though; he made a fortune as a dance instructor after the war.

The dancing styles of the nation reflect the changing immigrations and attitudes towards others. Tap dancing came from the Irish jig, and thanks to Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, became popular with movie audiences. Swing dancing became popular in the Great Depression, as dance hall owners were under pressure to fill the space while charging as little as possible. Disco was imported from Europe, break dancing began as a non-combat competition between gangs, and MTV helped popularize hip-hop moves. Perhaps you could say that movies and TV were a major influence on styles in the USA?

I’m not going to give away anything else from this book, because it’s a pleasure to read and I wouldn’t want to ruin the experience. Biographies, photos, and all kinds of historical background are included.