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You Can Learn To Dance The Charleston - Teach Yourself!
Roaring 20s: An era in American history during the 1920s of great economic growthand cultural and social changes.
Charleston: Popular dance in the 1920s utilizing partner and individualized moves.
Eight Count: Each melody segment in popular music is often found in counts of eight. (Learning to recognize the beginning and ending of an eight count in the melody is an important skill for learning dance routines.)
Placement of the Feet:
- Step forward with the right foot.
- Touch forward with left toe. (*Note: this is a touch and not a complete step. This is important so that the foot is ready to move back or forward easily for the next dance move.)
- Step back with the left foot.
- Touch back with right toe.
Repeat the sequence above, this time starting with the opposite foot. Step forward with your left foot, touch forward with your right toe, step back with your right foot and touch back with your left toe. Start the next sequence with the right foot, the next with the left, and so on.
Placement of the Hands & Arms:
As the foot touches forward, say the right toe, the left arm, slightly bent, should swing up to chest, with the palm flexed upward. The right arm swings out to the side in the same position. When the right toe touches back, the left arm drops down and the hand points down to the ground. The right arm swings to the back and points upward to the sky. When you point down, your body should go downward as well, so you are bending at the torso.
Complementary Moves:
Wing Dance: Stand with feet 1 1/2 feet apart, with the knees and torso bent slightly. Bring knees together every two counts. When the knees come together or go apart, the arms swing downward crossing over each other or opening out again; each time, place the hands on the knees; left on left and right on right. When the knees come together, the hands switch knees; left on right and right on left. You should get a criss-cross effect when knees and arms go back and forth.
"Shake the Hand" move: Raise the right hand to about head level and shake the pointer finger. The left hand rests on the hip. While shaking the pointer finger, turn right in one place and kick each leg back, bending at the knee while kicking up the heels.
A Short Charleston Routine:
For the first eight counts, do the four-step Charleston; on the second eight counts, do the Wing Dance; on the third eight counts, do the four step Charleston, again. Repeat this three eight count series, alternating the Wing Dance or the Shake the Hand move, but always return to the Charleston.
More Resources for Learning the Charleston
Video of "Won't You Charleston With Me" from the musical The Boyfriend
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