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Stage Name |
Birth Name |
Oscar Duryea |
n/a |
Started his dancing career as a boy teaching
dance assisting Mr. L. E. Dare who was ballet master at the M.E.T.
In 1888 the Duryea School of Dance was established and was still
going strong into the 1940's. However in February of 1910, Duryea
was arrested for not having a legal permit for his dance Academy,
he later obtained the License. Duryea was entertainment manager
at Narragansett Pier for the Mathewson Hotel for thirteen years
(summers.)
Arranged many dance numbers for movie studio's
such as Fox, Paramount, Warner and United Artists as well as staged
many plays along with teaching many movie personalities such as
Mary Pickford. Created a new dance called the "Two-Two"
in 1916.
On September 3rd, 1914, the "American
Society of Professors of Dancing" had already set in
motion, standardizing the steps of the Fox-trot.
Oscar Duryea who already was a long established Dancer was hired
to introduce the dance to the public. Duryea modified Fox's dance,
as the trotting could not be kept up for long periods without
tiring out the dancers, so the trot was replaced by a glide or
"Saunter." This "new Foxtrot" was an instant
hit and has remained a stable part in anyone's dancing syllabus
ever since.
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