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Dance History Archives: DANCE

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Page Updated:  February 12, 2007
Streetswings Dance History Archives

[Photo Not Available]

Dance Time line - At a Glance

    These dates are aproximate and not verified dates, just the earliest dates I have found on the listed subjects at the moment (these dates are not: "when was or became popular dates," unless stated.) Check actual dance page for more up-to-date dates. This page is constantly being updated. Other events in time are included to give an idea of the timeline around the dance, or describe something that affected dancing, these are in light yellow.

    Note: CE stands for "Common Era." It is a relatively new term that is experiencing some increased usage and is eventually expected to replace AD. BCE stands for "Before the common era." It is eventually expected to replace BC. (However, until it becomes widely used and understood, I am using the old way).

-

DATE

DANCE Type, Event, Notes etc.

 

1500 BCE

Natya    

pre 700

** Greek writer "Homer" writes the Iliad    

776 BC

** Greece holds mid-summer religious festivals at Olympia (Singing, Dancing, Competitions, Oratories, etc.)    

600 BC

** Dionysus worship begins in Greece (believers worshipped, ate and danced together, later men objected to women dancing together).    

500 BC

Mime (AKA: Pantomime)    

550 BC

Spanish Dance    

441 BC

** Euripides, (first choreographer), incorporates dance into his plays.    

186 BC

Bacchanalia    

2-6 BC

** Approximate birth date of Yeshua of Nazareth (Jesus Christ).    

9th AD

Farandole    

40's AD

Salome    

200 AD

Java Dance    

500 AD

Raks Sharki (Belly dance)    

500 AD

** Middle Ages Begin: European historical period between roughly AD 500 to 1450 (aka Dark Ages)    

500-800 AD

** the Dark Ages begin: (aka Middle Ages)    

527 AD

** A dancing girl named Theodora (d.548)* married Emperor Justinian becoming the Byzantine "Empress.    

860 AD

** Shiva Appears as the Lord of Dance (Nataraja)    

900 AD

** Christian Church holds dance performances on Easter Sunday services    

900 AD

Cramignon    

1100's

Espringall    

1100's

Sarabande (AKA: Zarabande)    

1200's

Westphalia - (Waltz Type dance)    

1360's

Moresca (AKA: Moorish dance)    

1387

** Geoffrey Chaucer writes 'The Canterbury Tales' which adds bawdiness to stage and dance.    

1374

St. Vitus Dance (see Tarentella)    

1400s

Ahselroten (Shimmy type dance - Germany)    

1400's

Basse Dance    

1400's

May Pole Dance (Modern version 1880's)    

1425

Calata (AKA: Calate, Calado)    

1445

Le Branle    

1448

Ballet (First actual "ballet")    

1450

** Middle Ages end: European historical period between roughly AD 500 to 1450    

1450

** Moveable Type Face is invented, and the Latin Bible is printed by 1455, dance treatise can now be printed enmasse.    

1450

** Renaissance period begins: (c. 1450-1600)    

1455

Conjé    

1463

Dance of Death appears    

1463

Torch Dance    

1470

Ballo (see ballet, court dance)    

1480

Cinq-Pas (AKA Galliarde)    

1480

Gagliarde    

1480

Galliarde (AKA: Cinq-Pas, Romain, Romanesca)    

1485

Rigaudon    

1489

** Ballet becomes publicly known    

1500

Passe-Pied    

1500's

Alta Danza (AKA: Salterello, also see Spanish Dance )    

1500's

Batugue    

1500's

Chacola    

1500's

Dansas dos Espingardeiros    

1500's

Danses dos Mariyos    

1500's

Danses dos Pratos    

1500's

Fulafranz    

1500's

Salterello (AKA: Alta Danza, Passo Brabante, Pas de Brabant, Breban, Quadernaria)    

1500's

Mazurka (AKA: Mazourka, Mazur, Masur, Masurek)    

1500's

Trotto    

1508

Pavane (AKA: Padovana, Passemesa, Peacock Dance)    

1515

Courante (similar to the Corrente)    

1520s

Clog (AKA: Des Sabots)    

1530's

Tordion    

1525

German Dreher (AKA: Walzer)    

1546

Padovana    

1546

Passemesa (AKA: Pavane)    

1549

Triori    

1550's

Hautes Danses    

1550's

Minuet    

1550's

Passe-Mezzo    

1552

Canaries, Danse de    

1556

Volta, the or Valzer (original not the French version)    

1560

Chacona (Guatamalan)    

1560

Firlefanz    

1560s

** Term Peasant Dance appears    

1560's

Pie de Jibao    

1560'S

Sarabande    

1565

Bourrée d'Auvergne    

1565

Foliá    

1569

Bergamasca    

1570

Cushion Dance (AKA: Joan Sanderson dance)    

1570s

Danse de Donzellas    

1576

** First "Dance Theater" opens in London    

1580

Fuhrungen    

1580

Gavotte (AKA: La Danse Classique)    

1580

Weller or Spinner (a Waltz)    

1588

Romanesca (AKA: Galliarde)    

1588

The book Orchesographie by Thoinot Arbeau is written and starts 'dance technique'    

1590

Nizzarda (similarities to Waltz)    

1597

** Opera Begins (Jacopo Peri's 'Dafne')    

1600

Espata Dansa    

1600

Espunolet    

1600

La Volte (French)    

1600

** Renaissance period ends: (c. 1450-1600)    

1600's

Allemande    

1600's

Baixia    

1600's

Carica    

1600's

Chaconne (Spanish)    

1600's

Corrente (Similar to Courante)    

1600's

Dansas Habladas    

1600's

Entrée Grave    

1600's

Espagnole    

1600's

Espanoleta    

1600's

Gigue (AKA: Jig, Giga)    

1600's

Schäfflertanz    

1607

** May 14, 1607 -- Settlers arrive at Jamestown, VA.    

1608

Pavanilla Italiana    

1619

** First African-Americans land on American soil to be sold as slaves -- Jamestown, VA.    

1620

** The Mayflower landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, MA 11/9/1620 (aka: Plymouth Rock)    

1635

the Academie Francaise was founded    

1650's

Les Contredanses - French (AKA: Contredanse Francaise, Contradance, Contra Danza, English Country Dance, anglaise or angloise)

1650

Roger de Coverly    

1661

** Louis XIV establishes Académie Royale de Danse    

1670

Bocane    

1670

Walzen or Walzer (AKA: Waltz)    

1670's

** Pierre Beauchamps defines five foot position    

1680

Lundu    

1681

** LaFontaine, the first woman to dance professionally in a Ballet.    

1690

Ländler    

1692

** Hysteria grips the village of Salem, Massachusetts, as witchcraft suspects are arrested and imprisoned (May 1692.) Ordeal finally ends in October.    

1700

** Raoul-Auger Feuillet creates first dance notation system    

1700's

Spanish Fandango    

1700's

Allewander (AKA: Allemande )    

1700's

Besola, the    

1700's

Calenda, The    

1700's

Cotillion, The    

1700's?

Danse au Virlet    

1700's

Fado    

1700's

Fofa    

1700's

Fogueiras de S. João    

1700's

Fricasee    

1700's

Friska    

1700's

Sicilienne    

1710

Royal Galliarde    

1710

Rigadoon Royal    

1711

Forlana (AKA: Forlane, Fourlane)    

1713

Pastoral    

1718

** New Orleans is founded by the French.    

1720

Ländler or Hospur    

1720

Weller, The (a Waltz)    

1730

** Shakespears 'Romeo and Juliet' performed for first time    

1734

** Marie Camargo raises dancing skirts above the ankle (for better freedom to move)    

1735

** Ballet arrives in America (Charleston, So. Carolina)    

1736

Arkansas Traveller (AKA: Essence of Old Virginia)    

1740

Quadrille    

1750

** Performers in Blackface appear on stages, eventually minstrel shows begin. (also see 1830)    

1750

Strathspey    

1750

the Waltz (see Walzen)    

1760's

Flamenco (AKA: Malagueña)    

1770

Strassburger    

1770's

Shakers Dance    

1776

** 7/4/1776 - United States Declaration of Independence enacted    

1776

Viennese Waltz    

1780

Bolero    

1780's

Furlana    

1784

** Revolutionary War officially ends    

1788

** "Dancing The Slave's" on slave ships recorded by Alexander Falconbridge    

1789

** First Inaugural Ball occurs in honor of President Washington.    

1800

Galop    

1800

the Valse (Germany) La Valse à deux temps    

1800's

La Badenowitch (AKA: Danish Waltz)    

1800's

Balmoral (AKA: Scotch Schottische)    

1800's

Basket of Fans    

1800's

Boston Fancy    

1800's

Bouffoons (Modern version, not ancient Greek version)    

1800's

Boulangère, La    

1800's

La Danse des 'Brandons'    

1800's

Buck and Wing    

1800's

Cascaron    

1800's

Chahut    

1800's

Czardas    

1800's

Firlefei (also Virlefei)    

1800's

Friss    

1800's

Krocan    

1800's

Paseo Doble    

1800's

Ta-Toa    

1800's

Trenchmore, the    

1800's

Tyrolene    

1800's

Les Varities Parisienne    

1800's

Waltz a Cinque Temps    

1803

Romaiika    

1809

German, The (AKA: Cotillion Waltz)    

1812

German Drekkar (AKA: Imperial Waltz)    

1812

English Imperial Waltz (AKA: German Drekkar)    

1816

Mazy Waltz    

1820

English Contra Dance (see Les Contredanses )    

1820

Lancers    

1820's

Hop Waltz (AKA: La Sauteuse, Old Waltz, New Spring Waltz and Waltz á trois temps)    

1820's

La Sauteuse (AKA: Hop Waltz)    

1820's

New Spring Waltz (AKA: Hop Waltz)    

1820's

Waltz á trois temps (AKA: Hop Waltz)    

1822

Can-Can    

1822

Polka    

1825

** Romanticism period begins: (c. 1825-1900)    

1828

Jim Crow Dance appears (Thomas Dartmouth Rice)    

1830

Redowa (AKA: Redjovet)    

1830

Virginia Reel    

1830's

Cracovienne (AKA: Kracovienne)    

1830's

** Minstrel shows appear in the U.S. The Virginia Minstrels appear in 1842 and start a sensation.    

1830's

Valse a deux Temps    

1833

La Casseralla    

1834

Boston (AKA: American and Glide Waltz)    

1836

Cachucha    

1839

New Polski Mazuorka (see mazurka)    

1839

Tarentella (AKA: St. Vitus Dance)    

1840

Columbine Waltz    

1840

** Master Juba Appears    

1840

** Photography is invented    

1840

Schottishe Waltz (a Polka)    

1840

Tap Dance    

1840

Trottartt    

1840's

** Burlesque Shows start to appear    

1842

La Cellarius    

1844

** First Music House opens (Mr. Thomas Rouse extends his London public house "the Eagle Tavern" for music, singing and Dancing)
   

1845

Pattin' Juba (May be older)    

1846

Dance of the Shadows    

1846

Eccentric-Can Can    

1848

Apollo Dance (Ballet Version)    

1849

Five Step    

1849

Schottische    

1850

A La Mode    

1850

Cakewalk    

1850

Varsovienne    

1850's

Merengue    

1850's

Rheinlander (AKA: Schottische)    

1850's

Serious Family Polka    

1850's

Sicillian, La (AKA: Sicilliana)    

1851

Cerrito Schottische    

1858

Dance After The Husking    

1860's

** 1st American style Burlesque House appears ... Mr. Michael Bennett Leavitt changes his format from plays, skits and farces into the "burlesque show."    

1860's

Barn Dance    

1860's?

Habanara    

1860's

Milonga (AKA: Tango , Andalusan )    

1860's

Napoleonienne    

1860's

Walk Around (... see cakewalk)    

1860's

Waltz La Veilers    

1861

** Miss Adah Isaac Menken burlesque dance costume fully bares her legs on stage, abandoning tights.
   

1863

Stag Dance    

1866

** Stage production of "The Black Crook" opens.    

1866

Gitana Waltz    

1866

Valse L' Americain (French version of the American Waltz)    

1868

** Burlesque successfully arrives in U.S. with Lydia Thompson at New York's Woods Theater    

1869

** The Folies Bergere officially opens in France    

1870's

Balance Waltz (AKA: Two Step)    

1870's

Maxixe    

1874

Glide Waltz (AKA: Boston)    

1875

** Strip Tease is Born (Le Divan Fayouau, in the 'Rue des Martyrs,' France, removes most of her clothing one piece at a time.)    

1876

Hootchy - Cootchy Dance (AKA: Hootchie Cootchie, Hootchie, Hoochi Coochi, Hooch dance)    

1876

Skirt Dance    

1878

** Musical Comedy begins    

1879

Danzon    

1879

Fascination Waltz    

1879

Redowa Glissade    

1880

Virginia Reel    

1880's

American Gavotte    

1880's

Ashland Polka    

1880's

Bamboula    

1880's

Buzzard Lope    

1880's

Cadet Waltz    

1880's

Carlton, The    

1880's

Celtic, The    

1880's

Columbia, The    

1880's

Combination Polka    

1880's

Counjaille    

1880's

Coquette    

1880's

Esmerelda Waltz    

1880's

Eugenie Waltz    

1880's

Hesitation Waltz (or Valse Boston)    

1880s

** Ragtime is born    

1880's

Soft Shoe (also see Tap Dance, Virginia Essence)    

1881

** Cabaret (Le Chat Noir) and leads into Vaudeville by 1883 (Tony Pastors)    

1881

College Step Waltz (4/10/1881 -ASPD)    

1882

Five Step Waltz    

1883

Azalea, The    

1883

Xylophone Polka    

1884

Boston Dip    

1885

College Polka (AKA: Collegiate Polka)    

1887

** Hollywood, California is named & Co-Founded by Daeida Hartell Wilcox Beveridge    

1888

Berlin, The    

1888

Knickerbocker Waltz    

1888

Newport Dance    

1888

Three Step Galop    

1889

** Cakewalk finally becomes fashionable with Sam T. Jacks Creole Show    

1890

Ballin' The Jack    

1890?

Break Down    

1890

Heel & Toe Polka    

1890

Mesemba (Samba)    

1890

Rye Waltz    

1890

Three Step    

1890

Two Step    

1890's

One Step    

1890's

Scarf Dance    

1890's

Shadow Dance    

1890's

Slow Drag    

1890's

Square Dance    

1890's

Tango    

1890s

** Uncle Tom's Cabin premieres    

1892

Serpentine Dance    

1893

** Little Egypt dances at the Worlds Colombian Exposition in Chicago, Sol Bloom coins term Belly Dancing here    

1893

** Oscar Wilde realeases his play entitled "Salome"    

1895

Cloak Dance

1895

Irene Skipping Rope Dance (later became "Double Dutch")

1895

Witches Dance

1896

Passion Dance    

1897-1902

** American Gold Rush happens, spawns Saloon hall dancers, the Can-Can and Hooch dancers like Diamond Lil, Diamond-Toothe Gertie etc.    

1897

La Czarina Mazurka (also Czarina Waltz)    

1899

** Isadora Duncan Appears    

1900

** Romanticism period ends: (c. 1825-1900)    

1900s

Beguine, The    

1900s

Embolada    

1900s

Shake and Quiver (Shimmy, Shimmy Sha Wabble)    

1900s

Valse Maurice    

1900

Apache Dance    

1900

** Chorus Line Dancing begins with the "Floradoa Girls" (Sextette)    

1900

** Modern era beigins with DeBussey    

1900

One Step    

1900

Tango American (mouvet)    

1902

Irish Trot    

1902

Pasadena, The    

1903

Betsy Ross Dance    

1905

Frat March    

1905

Mattichichi, La (incorrect AKA: Maxixe )    

1905

Oriental Foxtrot    

1906

Chicken Reel    

1906

Dance Of The Demons    

1907

Cocoanut Dance    

1907

Ju-Jitsu Waltz    

1907

Whirlwind Waltz    

1907

** the Flo Ziegfeld Follies Begin    

1908

Boston Two Step    

1908

Edelweiss Glide Waltz    

1909

Abstract Dance    

1909

Grizzly Bear    

1909

Klapdanse    

1909

Texas Tommy    

1910

Argentine Tango    

1910

Black Bottom    

1910

Buena Vista Tango    
1910

Credo Waltz (aka Rosevelts Gavotte)

   

1910

Open Tango    

1910

Walking Boston    

1910's

Berceuse    

1910's

Camel Walk    

1910's

Chicago, The    

1910's

Congo Tongo    

1910's

Fan Tango    

1910's

Fish Walk    

1910's

Kangaroo Dip    

1910's

Parisienne Tango    

1910's

Philadelphia Boston    

1910's

Shim Sham    

1911

Bunny Hug    

1911

Castle Tango (The Castles)    

1911

Cubanola Glide    

1911

Gaby Glide    

1911

Horse Trot    

1912

Castle Walk    

1912

Come To Me Tommy    

1912

Fox Trot (might go back to 1905)    

1912

Irish Tango    

1912

Lame Duck Valse    

1912

Nights of Gladness Waltz    

1912

Pidgeon Walk    

1912

Santley Tango (Joseph Santley)    

1912

Whirlwind Waltz    

1912

Three Step (AKA: Jazz Straight)    

1913

Ballin The Jack is Introduced in the "Darktown Follies"    

1913

Bunny Hug    

1913

Chinese Ta-Toa    

1913

Innovation Waltz    

1913

Newman Tango    

1913

Pavlova Gavotte    

1913

Philadelphia Drag    

1913

Rumba (AKA: Son, Danzon, Rhumba)    

1913

Throw Away    

1913

Vampire Dance, The    

1914

Aeroplane Waltz    

1914

Aunt Jemima Slide    

1914

Canter Waltz    

1914

Castle Fox Trot (The Castles)    

1914

Castle Innovation Tango (The Castles)    

1914

Castle Walk (The Castles)    

1914

Cinquante-Cinquante    

1914

Circle, The    

1914

Clifford Trot, Clifford Walk    

1914

Congo Tango    

1914

Davy's Foxtrot    

1914

** The Denishawn School Opens    

1914

Dengozo Maxixe    

1914

Dortohy Waltz (Dorothy Dickson)    

1914

Evelyn Foxtrot (Evelyn Nesbitt)    

1914

Foxtrot Chasseurs    

1914

French Pericon    

1914

Kangaroo Hop    

1914

LuLu Fado    

1914

Papaltatsa Maxixe    

1914

Pauline Waltz    

1915

Walking The Dog    

1915

Whirlwind Waltz    

1915

Cincinnati Two Step    

1915

Negro Drag    

1915

Peabody    

1916

Kathlyn Waltz    

1917

Jazz Dance    

1917

** Mata Hari is executed by a French firing squad    

1917

Samba (AKA: Mesemba)    

1917

Toddle , The    

1918

(Dance of the) Sand Dune    

1918

Shimmy (has roots to 1400s)    

1918

Tickle Toe    

1918

Valse Maurice (Maurice Mouvet)    

1919

** World War One (WWI) ends    

1919

Chicken Walk    

1919

Crap Shooters    

1919

** The "Great Migration" begins in full force (Southern Blacks migrate to Northern Cities)    

1919

Shimmy    

1920

Castillian Foxtrot    

1920

Tango Valse    

1920's

Arizona Hike    

1920's

Bambouca    

1920's

Bowery Tap    

1920's

Break Away    

1920's

Bull Frog Hop    

1920's

Civa Dance    

1920's

Collegiate, the    

1920's

Collegiate Foxtrot (Later became Texas Two Step)    

1920's

Collegiate Glide    

1920's

Cootie Tickle    

1920's

Cutting In (AKA: Memphis Tapping Novelty Dance)    
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