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Category: Vintage Dance


Mar
2015

The Dancing Side of the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend

categories: 1950's, Rockabilly, Vintage Dance

In short time I will be in hot, sunny Las Vegas for the “Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender“. I’m very excited to be exiting cold Toronto and spending 6 days surrounded by cool music, cool clothes, cool people and even cooler dancing, but NOT cold weather.

Vintage 1950s / Early 1960s photo of a couple dancing Rock n Roll / Jive Dancing / Swing Dancing. Learn more about Rockabilly dances (bop, stroll & jive) at the Vintage Inn blog.

As a Lindy Hopper, I love to dance and I love to watch dancing and at Viva there are lots of all of that. There are Jivers, Lindy Hoppers, Boppers and Strollers and even once in a while I have seen some two steppers. Dancers from all over the world converge once a year on Las Vegas to listen and dance to some of the best artists in the Rockabilly scene past and present and I am one of them.

At Viva, Lindy Hop (my dance) is not your typical dance done, in fact it is in the small percentile of dances seen on the dance floor. The Jive, Boogie Woogie, Bop and Stroll take the lead.

Right now you might be scratching you head and asking, what exactly are these dances you speak of? Let me help you out.

The Vintage Dances You Will See At Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend

The”Rockabilly Jive”

Rockabilly Jive Dancing- Vinage 1940s photo of a man dancing with two women.

The Rockabilly Jive dance style comes from the south of the United States and was first introduced  by the military during World War II, inspired by swing and rock’n’roll. Then, in the early 50s, it adopted the rhythms of rockabilly music (mix of country and rhythm and blues).

Accessible by its simple steps (done on a one-two-turn-return, one-two-turn-return, one-two-turn-return count), this dance also allows many acrobatic moves, which makes it joyfully energetic!

Since the late 90s, Rockabilly Jive has regained popularity. Indeed, this dynamic and vibrant dance has won new fans, with people who enjoy the rebellious spirit of the 1950s (Source).

Jive dancing at the VIVA Pool Party-the women is wearing a vintage 1950s two piece swimsuit.
Source: The Sartorialist

Here is a video from Viva’s Jive Contest in 2023.

The Stroll

The stroll you see at Rockabilly events is not the original Stroll (seen below) that involved holding the hand of your partner as your “strolled” down the center.

The stroll of today is a repeating dance mostly done by the ladies but I have seen guys jump into the lines on a few occasions, but 99% of the time it’s mostly ladies (but guys..join the fun!). Once you get the pattern, it’s pretty simple to do and great way to dance if you don’t have a partner.

Music tends to be bouncy RnB, slower beats and rockin’ garage tunes.

Here is yours truly and some friends doing the “stroll” at Viva many moons ago. Gosh I look lost.

Rockabilly Stroll Viva Las Vegas

 Boppin’

This dance I have never heard of until I went to VIVA but apparently I have been doing a version of it almost every-time I went out dancing and did not have a partner.

According to Miss Wolff’s Jiving School:

This wild solo freestyle dance was more of a man’s dance from the ’30s to the ’50s, but in this equal opportunity millennium, gals and guys alike bop around with this fast crazy dance, popular worldwide, after remaining far underground for most of the ’60s.

This is a great workout – think rockabilly aerobics! Bopping is a passion-filled mix of tap, step and jive beats fueled by your love and feeling of the beat, the beat, the BEAT, each person feeling it in their own way.

Boogie Woogie

I honestly never heard of this dance until about 5 years ago and then I realized that I had been seeing it on the VIVA dance floor many times. Like Lindy Hop, it’s not as popular as Jiving at the event but you will still see it.

About: Although its music had its beginnings in the 1870s, and its glory period from the 1920s to the 1940s, the dance didn’t emerge until a little later. The dance known as Boogie Woogie took influence from what was danced to Rock ‘n’ Roll music in the 1950s, and has certain similarities to Lindy Hop (Source). The 6-count footwork of the dance is step step, triple-step, triple-step. It’s VERY Energetic!

Dance Classes at VIVA

IF you are going to VIVA this year you can take dances lessons from Miss Wolff’s Jiving School during the weekend and be a pro in no time.

Viva Las Vegas 17 dance floor
The Vintage Inn (me, liz) on the VIVA dance floor with my friend Dean on the Sunday Night.

The Lindy Hop

As stated above, the Lindy Hop is not typical at VIVA but it is done by many dancers. See my posts on the Lindy Hop HERE.

1930s Vintage photo of Black Dancers dancing the Lindy Hop at the Savoy Ballroom.

Will I be seeing you on the dance floor at VIVA? What is your favourite dance to do? Share any thoughts in the comments section below!

Further Reading:

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend Poster.

Liz 🙂


Jan
2015

Vintage Dance Cards

categories: Vintage Dance, vintage History, vintage images

(updated February 2023)

I don’t know what came over me but recently I have been very enamored with finding “vintage dance cards” for my collection of “vintage stuff” at home. I just think they are so fun and wonderful to see when they have the card all filled up. I can just imagine all the glorious dances that the holder of the card would have had and I love seeing a story being told when you read who received those dances that night.

girl filling out her dance card 1940s
Source: eBay

Lets explore the world of “Dance Cards” together.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Note: If an item is no longer for sale after you click on it, don’t worry! Etsy & eBay are updated daily with 1000’s of products. Take a look around and see what you find!

Vintage Dance Cards

The History of Dance Cards

A dance card or programme du bal (also known by its German-language name, Tanzkarte) is used by a woman to record the names of the gentlemen with whom she intends to dance each successive dance at a formal ball. They appear to have originated in the 18th century, but their use first became widespread in 19th century Vienna, especially at the massive balls during Fasching before Lent.

An actual dance card is typically a booklet with a decorative cover, listing dance titles, composers, and the person with whom the woman intended to dance. Typically, it would have a cover indicating the sponsoring organization of the ball and a decorative cord by which it could be attached to a lady’s wrist or ball gown. From the 19th century until World War I, dance cards for the elite of Austria-Hungary were often very elaborate, with some even incorporating precious metals and jewels.

In modern times the expression “dance card” is often used metaphorically, as when someone says “pencil me into your dance card,” meaning “find some time to spend with me”. Conversely, someone’s “dance card is full” implies that even though they may be interested, they have no time for another person (Source).

Now for some wonderful examples of Dance Cards

This early 1900’s dance card from Stratton Park Pavilion in Cheyenne Canon, Colorado is a real interesting read. I recommend taking a moment to check out the “rules”.

Early 1900's dance card rules. Rules on how to behave at the dance.
1900's dance card for waltzes and two steps. vintage dance card.

Source: eBay

The Senior Class of 1946 presents ‘The Senior Prom’ April 12th, 1946 at Linden High School, New Jersey.

1940s Senior Prom Vintage Dance Card

The Order of Dance “prompts” are so fun! “Gee! you’re cute” and “Huba-Huba” HA!

1940s vintage dance card

Source: eBay

May 16th, 1947 Junior Prom in the Cafeteria.

1940s Vintage Dance Card for Junior Prom
Source: Etsy-The Vintage Hunter

CLEARLY this lovely gal had only eyes for one gentleman..Ronald Howell.

1940s Vintage Dance Card for a Junior Prom
Source: Etsy-The Vintage Hunter

The below 1941 dance card is from my personal collection. It’s for a ‘Meds Myster Dance’ and it has a fun halloween like theme to it.

1940s Vintage Dance Card-1941 for a Med Mystery Dance.

I’m thinking this colourful 1920s dance card was for a nautical themed dance.

1920's Vintage Art Deco Dance Card featuring a vintage boat
Source: Etsy-puffadonna
1920s Vintage Dance Card
Source: Etsy-puffadonna

Dance card from the 1926 Boston University Junior Prom held at the Hotel Somerset. Partially filled in with names, some crossed out (wonder what happened there?).

1926 Boston University Junior Promenade Dance Card
1926 Boston University Junior Promenade Dance Card

Source: Etsy

These vintage dance cards are lovely and evocative of more elegant and formal times. This listing is for six 1920s dance Fraternity Dance cards. See the collection HERE (and to purchase if you like).

These vintage dance cards are lovely and evocative of more elegant and formal times. This listing is for six 1920s dance Fraternity Dance cards.
These vintage dance cards are lovely and evocative of more elegant and formal times. This listing is for six 1920s dance Fraternity Dance cards.

Source: Etsy

The Gold design on the cover of this University of Michigan 1931 Senior Ball card is really fantastic!

1930s Vintage Dance Card for a senior ball.
Source: Etsy-DickandJanesbooks

And the inscription on the back eludes to a very interesting night, I think.

1930s Dance Card featuring an inscription on the inside
Source: Etsy-DickandJanesbooks

Not all dance cards were made of cardboard or decorative paper some were made out of materials like wood, leather and even metal.

Here is a delightful example of a wood dance card.

1930s Vintage Dance Card for a Senior Ball.
Source: Syracuse University Archives

At this particular Senior Ball of 1939 the famous Musician “Bobby Hackett” was playing with his Orchestra. Now that would have been a treat!

1930s vintage dance card Senior Ball
Source: jazzlives.wordpress.com

Here is another example of a “story” being told in a dance card. Someone by the name of “Gene” got the first dance, middle 2 dances and the last dance at the Ball. Did the romance of the night take these two off to marriage with kids? Or did they go their separate ways after the dance was done? We will never know but we can imagine, can’t we?

1930s vintage dance card
Source: jazzlives.wordpress.com

Now weren’t all those dance cards wonderful? Such a fun tradition, that sadly no longer exists and maybe for the best but as the Queen of Nostalgia I can’t help but yearn for maybe a night where it comes back. Maybe one day.

FURTHER READING:

Liz 🙂