Does anybody dance the Charleston?

Brinybay · Feb 1, 2011

Wasn't sure where to post this, so here it is. I recently acquired a stack of unwanted 78s from a collector who said they were just "junk". Just goes to show you, one man's junk is another man's treasure.

Among them was a copy of Isham Jones Orchestra "The Original Charleston". I recorded it being played on my Victrola and uploaded it to Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diH-8cccpws

Of course, Youtube links to related videos, several examples of the Charleston. It looks silly enough to be fun! This one was my favorite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSFzLfgKKLI

Does anybody here dance the Charleston?

jessesgirl08 · Feb 1, 2011

Not me but wish i knew how, looks so fun. such a happy dance.

bunnyb.gal · Feb 1, 2011

I've just done a couple of workshops in it but I would love to do it more often, as it is one heck of a workout, to great music, and it's loads of fun! I do ballroom and sometimes you see some of the Charleston moves incorporated into Quickstep.

Congratulations on your score (no pun intended) of 78's!

resortes805 · Feb 2, 2011

Brinybay said:
Does anybody here dance the Charleston?

Yes.

Miss sofia · Feb 2, 2011

I'm learning!

HepKitty · Feb 2, 2011

Yes and it's so silly it's fun!

Brinybay · Feb 2, 2011

bunnyb.gal said:
I've just done a couple of workshops in it but I would love to do it more often, as it is one heck of a workout, to great music, and it's loads of fun! I do ballroom and sometimes you see some of the Charleston moves incorporated into Quickstep.

Congratulations on your score (no pun intended) of 78's!

It did occur to me that it would be very aerobic, but that's actually an inducement. Aerobic exercise just for the exercise is boring. Much prefer something like this. The fact they were doing it in heels amazes me! But then, I don't see how women can even walk in those things!

Paisley · Feb 2, 2011

Most people who swing dance know some Charleston.

dnjan · Feb 2, 2011

Learned it in dance class in the 70's, but lack of opportunity since then kind of erased it from my repertoire.
It was kind of a "really let yourself go" dance.

Yeps · Feb 2, 2011

Paisley said:
Most people who swing dance know some Charleston.

I fit in this category of swing dancers who know a little bit of Charleston because it is incorporated. However, I really want to learn Charleston on its own.

Bassman · Feb 2, 2011

My wife and I just started learning the Charleston this past weekend.
I am having trouble.

RadioWave · Feb 6, 2011

Yep. Would like to learn more variations though.

p71towny · Feb 6, 2011

No dancing for me. I might be slightly better than Herman Munster if that.

Swing Motorman · Feb 6, 2011

Yep, I know two variations. They're fun! They may look a bit silly if you're on your own, but in a group, it looks classy!

At my college's swing club, the people who know Charleston have extra fun when we do "snowball" dances. While waiting to join the dance floor, we stand around the circle and Charleston along to the beat until picked to dance. It makes these fun times even more enjoyable... and looks seriously solid!

Miss Peach · Feb 6, 2011

Absolutely--you'd be amazed at the hilarious and jubilant variations of it. Most of the dancers on my scene incorporate it into their lindy hop and you cannot help but be happy.

Guttersnipe · Feb 6, 2011

My grandma was the 1927 Charleston champion of the San Francisco area's Jewish equivalent of the YMCA/YWCA (can't remember the org.'s name). When I was a little kid her and my grandpa used to show me the dance, they'd dance the Charleston around the living room! Alas I remember nothing of it.

Derek WC · Feb 6, 2011

Thanks to this thread, I decided to give 'er a try, and I'd have to say, it's quite fun. There're a few videos on YouTube that are pretty good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pj0uSOGrfc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPW1bBlzBb0&playnext=1&list=PL01A82B14290C1D96
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLVyv-8Np8E
Although the first one is not completely historically accurate, I think it's the most helpful.

Mojito · Feb 7, 2011

I don't think anyone will be particularly surprised that I dance a 20s style Charleston (with more of the sideways flicking action). Flicking in a "bees knees" move is always fun! Friend and I developed a "you can Charleston to anything" theory late one night...not sure how good our judgement was after the copious quanities of champagne, but proved it at least to our own satisfaction.

Derek WC · Feb 7, 2011

I actually think you can Charleston to anything, any older songs I mean. If you really listen to them, you can imagine doing it. I've noticed also, that you can Charleston to almost any song from the 20's.

ChrisT · Mar 16, 2017

I know it's an old thread, but I'm an avid Charleston dancer.
I've learned to dance Charleston in my Lindy hop lessons.

Does anybody dance the Charleston?

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