DANCE INDEX: [ S ]

Dance Name

Origin

Date

Creator / Choreographer

Note: See Also

S' escandalari

Ibiza, Spain

n/a

Peasant dance celebrating planting and harvesting

Spanish Dance

Saber Dance

n/a

n/a

see sword for now

Sword, Military, War, 6/29/1953-Time Mag.

Sacred Dance

World

ancient

World religious dances

Catholic, Jewish, Buddhists, Zen, Christian, Monks, etc.

Safety Dance

n/a

1980s

n/a

The Robot, Rock Lobster, Peewee Herman, Electric Slide, The Centipede, The Ant

Sailors Hornpipe

Scotland

n/a

n/a

Arkansas Traveler, Highland Fling, Sword, Jig, Reels

Salac Dance

Rome?

Biblical

Numa Pompilius

(dance to honor God of War)

Salegy

Madagascar

n/a

Sakalave peoples

n/a

Salian Dance

Rome

B.C.

Numa, Sali Priests

War, Mythology, Religious

Saltarelle or Saltarello

Italy

1500's

aka: Alta Danza

Court, Tarantella, Galliard, Quaternaria

Salome Dance

Italy

40's AD

Princess Salome,

Dance Of The Seven Veils, Belly, Raks Sharki, Hootchy Cootchy, Maude Allen, Joan Sawyer, Jessie York, Sol Cohen

Salta

France?

1700s?

Lucretia Borgia dance this

aka: Waltz

Samah

Asia

B.C.

n/a

Kirkler Samah, Dervish, Turkey

Samba

Brazil

1917?

Introduced to the USA in 1940

Latin, Salsa, Mambo, Marti Gras

Sand Dance

USA?

1920s?

Harriet Brown. a Syncopated Shuffle. No Maps On My Taps [by Sims 1979] aka: Scratchin' the Gravel

see Tap, Soft Shoe,

Sand Dune
(dance of the)

n/a

1918

Norma Brandt

n/a

Santley Tango

New York

1912

Joseph Santley

"When Dreams Come True"

Sapateo de, El

n/a

c1800s

Fanny Essler?

n/a

Sarabande

Guatemala

1560s

Andalusian, aka: Sarabanda, Zarabanda

Spanish Dance, Tarraga, Chacona, Zarabanda, Rastro, Sarabanda

Sararo

Galicia

1500s

Ball Game dance at a Carnival

Muyneria, Gallega, Minuet, Cotillion

Sardana

Cataluña

c.1600s?

Catalan

Contrapas, Spanish

Saut Basque

Basque

n/a

aka: Mutchíco

Zorzico, edo carrica dantza

Sauteuse

1830's?

n/a

(a kind of waltz)

Waltz, Quadrille

Savoy Ballroom

New York

12/14/1926

Created by Charles Buchanon

Roseland, Palomar, Jitterbug, Lindy

Savoy Style Swing

New York

c.1930s

Smoother version done at Savoy Ballroom, NY

West Coast Swing, Lindy, Hollywood Style

Scarf Dance

?

c.1890s

1920 Scarf dance s/m

Foreman Hall, Skirt, Fan, Bubble, Veil

Schäfflertanz

Munich

1600s?

originated from Bow & Hoop Dance

Bow and Hoop,

Schönpart

Nürnberg

n/a

a Carnival Dance

n/a

Scottish Espagnole

France

1900s

aka: Spanish Schottische

n/a

Schottische

Germany

c.1840s?

Created by Markowski (Poland)

Folk, Country, Square, Friska, Polka, Rheinlander, Mazurka

Schuhplattltanz

Bavaria

n/a

Bavarian Folk Dance

Ballet, Folk, Balanchine

Schuhplatteln

Germany

n/a

n/a

n/a

Schwertertanz

Europe

n/a

n/a

Sword

Schwabentanz

Austria

c.1800's?

4/4/ & 3/4 mix

Waltz,

Scotch Reel

Scotland

n/a

National Dance

Virginia Reel, Roger de Coverly, Hornpipe, Jigs, Square Dance

Scratchin' The Gravel

n/a

1910's

aka: Sand Dance

n/a

Scronch, The

Kentucky

n/a

n/a

Skronch, Cab Calloway

Siebensprung

Germany

1600's?

2/4 time

n/a

Sea Sick Dance/ Glide

USA

1913

Ragtime Dance

Texas Tommy, Bunny Hug, Grizzly Bear, Tiger, Boston Dip, Dallas Dip, Horse Trot etc.

Sefton Waltz

n/a

1908

Created By J.B. McKewen

Waltz,

Sequence Dancing

England

n/a

Such as square/ round dancing,

steps taken in certain definite order such as the Military Two-Step, Veleta, Square Dance etc.

Sequidilla

Castile, Spain

n/a

n/a

Spanish Dance, Sevillana

Serious Family Polka

New York

1850

Created by M. Frederick at Burtons Theater

Polka

Serpentine Dance

Paris

1892

Created by Loie Fuller

Butterfly Dance, Fan, Bubble, Veil, Skirt, Scarf, Sword, Fire

Seven Years Itch, The

USA

1910's?

Scratching the Body in Rhythm

n/a

Sevillana

Andalucía, Spain

n/a

n/a

Spanish Dance, Seguidilla, Flamenco

Sewin' The Rice

USA

1910's

n/a

Ballin The Jack, Eagle Rock, Baltimore Buzz

Shadow Dance

New York

c.1890's

Created By Lydia Thompson

Cancan, Jig

Shag, Carolina

Myrtle Beach, So. Carolina

c.1930's?

Unknown

West Coast Swing, Push, Supreme Swing, Jitterbug, Whip, East Coast Swing, Lindy

Shag (A. Murray)

New York

c.1930's

Created by Arthur Murray

Balboa, Collegiate, Jitterbug, Collegiate Shag

Shag, Collegiate

???

c.1920's

College Students?

aka: Arthur Murray Shag, Balboa

Shag, New Orleans

???

c.1925

Richard Jones?

Collegiate, Swing, Lindy Hop, West Coast

Shag, St. Louis

St. Louis

1930s

n/a

Fast, Charleston Like couples dance

Shame Dance, The

USA

1923

n/a

Universal

Shake and Quiver

Haiti

???

Via slave trade. aka: Shitka, Shimmy

Shika, Shimmy, Shimmy-Sha-Wabble, Shake

Shakers, The

New Eng.

 1770's

Sister Anna Lee 

Religion, Morris, May Pole 

Shawl Dance

?Paris?

?c.1839?

n/a

Scarf Dance, Fan Dance, Ballet, Bayadere

Shika Dance

Nigeria

n/a

n/a

Shimmy, Shake and Quiver, Shimmy Sha Wabble, Shake dance

Shim Sham, The

See below

c.1920s

See also: Shim Sham Shimmy

Tap, Clog, Jazz, Theater, Act

Shim Sham Shimmy

New York?

1937

Leonard Reed

Line, Big Apple, Swing, Lindy

Shimmy, The

USA

1908

claimed by Gilda Gray,  Mae West in 1918/19

Chemise, Shake, Shake and Quiver, Shimmy Sha Wabble, Shake dance, Bull Frog Hop Song (1908)

Shimmy Sha Wabble

Haiti

1911

Pre cursor to the Gilda /West Shimmy Dance, probably from Shika dance

Shimmy, Chemise, Shake and Quiver, Shimmy Sha Wabble, Shake dance, Rules and Regulation Song (1911).

Shinto Dance

Japan

-

-

Oriental Fan Dance, Geisha, Maiko

Shishi Mai

Japan

n/a

Traditional Lion Dance w/ Chinese roots

Shishi Odori

Shishi Odori

Japan

n/a

Deer Dance

Shishi Mai

Shout

Africa

c.1800s

African Hymns

n/a

Shuffle

USA

1920s

Ragtime Dance

n/a

Sicinnis

n/a

BC?

n/a

Violent shaking dance

Sicillian (a), La

Sicily

c.1850s?

Pastoral dance,
(6/8 or 12/8 time)

La Tarantella, L'Italienne, Valse Redowa,

Sicilienne

Poland

c.1700s?

Markowski
(difficult, but graceful)

Friska, Schottische, Mazurka, Libonienne, L'Italienne

Silent Dance

USA

1928

n/a

(Social Dance thru Recorded Music and Headphones)

Silent Dance

n/a

1500's

Venetian's

Weddings

Sir Roger de Coverly

England

c.1800s

see Roger de Coverly

n/a

Sirillas

Chili

n/a

(Quellón region)

n/a

Siva Dance

Samoa

c.1880s

Samoan?

Apia, King Malietoa

Six Step Waltz

New York

?

Oscar Duryea

National Biscuit Company

Six-Eight, The

England

1927

n/a

n/a

Skating Waltz

Paris

1903?

Created by Maurice Mouvet as a boy

Solo Waltz done to Innamorata song. can be done to any waltz song however.

Skákava

Bohemia

n/a

n/a

Mazurka

Skip Dance

n/a

c.1800s?

n/a

n/a

Skip Rope
Dance

Buffalo, New York

1895

choreographed for Irene Pirson by Horatio N. Grant. (The rope describes two revolutions to each bar. The dancer leaves the floor with a leap or hop every count in the bar, 164 hops and leaps. The rope goes under the feet on 1st and 3rd counts.)

Skirt Dance

n/a

1876?

Kate Vaughan

Serpentine, Veils, Butterfly, Bubble, Fan

Skronch

Kentucky

n/a

n/a

Scronch, Cotton Club, Cab Calloway

SLÅNGPOLSKA FRÅN VIKBOLANDET

Sweden

n/a

danced at weddings and Holidays

Folk, Russian, Ukrainian, Israeli

Slop, The

California

n/a

American Bandstand Introduction

aka:  Maybe West Coast Swing?

Sluefoot, The

California?

1954

Daddy Long Legs

see Leslie Caron, Fred Astaire, Daddy Long Legs Film

Slow Drag

New Orleans

c.1890s

n/a

Fish, Pony, Treemonisha

Smurf, the

USA

c.1980s?

Smurf Cartoon Dance

Urkel, Pee Wee Herman Dance, The Pacman

Snake Dance

Arizona

1903

?Hopi Indians?,

Hopi, Moki, 2/1911 Nat'l Geographic Mag.

Snake Dance

Havana

c.16th Cent.

Voodoo Priests

Naningo, Matar La Culebra

Snake Hips

New York

c.1920s

Earl " Snake Hips " Tucker

Connie's Hot Chocolates, Congo Dance

Soft Shoe

The South

1910's

George Primrose, Barney Fagan
- (See Tap,)

Leonard, Sand Dance, Virginia Essence, Clog, Tap, Buck /Wing, Juba

Soleares

Spain

n/a

origin of the Flamenco

Spanish, Flamenco, Alegrias

Son, The

Cuba

n/a

aka:   Rumba

Mambo, Cha-cha, Salsa, Latin, Rumba

Sonia Polish Dance

Poland?

1924

aka: Polka

Polka

Sophisticated Swing

California

c.1940s

Myrna Myron name for West Coast Swing.

West Coast Swing, Western Swing, Supreme Swing, Push, Whip, Swop, Swango, Swustle, Swag, Carolina Shag

South Sea Fling

n/a

c.1944

Efate Dancers

n/a

South Sea Hula Dance

New York

1922

Gilda Gray

n/a

Southern Slide

USA

1911

Composer: Jos. A. Burke

Spagnoletta

Netherlands

c.1600s

n/a

Pavane, Espunyolet, Spanish

Spanish Dance

Spain

550 B.C. (Varies?)

Andalusia

Flamenco, Sarabande, Spanish Espagnole, Salaterello, Jaleo, Sequidilla, Fandango, Dancing Girls from Cadiz, Jota

Spanish Espagnole

Paris?

c.1900s

n/a

Spanish Dance, Schottische

Spider Dance

NY?

c.1800s

Lola Montez (Gilbert), done in Louise Glaum 'Sex' Film [1920]

Spanish, Lola & Andre'

Spoon Dances

Turkey?

n/a

Anatolia

Dinar, Silifke, Bolu, Konya

Spreading Chestnut Tree

England

n/a

Miss Adele England

Miss England,

Springar

Sweden

n/a

Swedish and Norwegian Country Dance

aka: Springdans, Springleik

Square Dance

England?

c.1800s

n/a

Country, Round, Folk

Square-Order Shuffle

England

1788

Father Joseph (Shakers)

Shakers dance,

St. Louis Shag

E. St. Louis

c.1930s

Kenny Wetzel was a main devotee of this dance.

Charleston, St. Louis Hop, Lindy, Shag, WC Swing,

St. Louis Shuffle

USA

C.1937

A. Murray (Lets Swing It)

n/a

St. Vitus Dance

Germany

1374

Middle Ages

Tarantella, Dance Marathons,

Stag Dance

USA

1863

Union Soldiers

Ballroom,

Stag Line

USA

1937

Single Men

Cutting In, Single, Escort

Statue Dance

n/a

1840s?

Minstrel Shows

Pedestal Dance, Jig, Clog, Step Dance, Tap

Step Dance

Ireland

400's

(see tap for now)

Tap, Clog, Jig, Pedestal

Steppin'

Chicago, IL

1940's

n/a

Stepping, Swing, DC Hand Dance, Walk, Offtime

Stevenson Stomp

New York

1952

Natl. Dance Masters Ass.

Political, Al Smith Hop, Lindy Hop

Stomp-Stomp-Stomp

USA

1960

(8/1960 - Ballroom Dance Mag)

the Madison

Stop-Time Dance

-

1920s

Fred Stone and Dave Mongomery danced this dance

Tap, Vernacular, Minstrel

Strassburger

Paris

1770

n/a

Mozart, Landler, Strassbourgeoise

Strathspey

Scotland (Straph / Vale Spey river)

1750

National dance of Scotland. Basically a slow reel.

Highland Fling, Highland Schottische, Hornpipe,
Slower than Reels

Stroll, The

USA

c.1913

Albert Newman - (from Hesitation Boston, became fad in 1960s)

Hesitation Boston (Waltz), Fad, Twist, Frug,

Strollypso

USA

c.1960s

Jackie Dee

Stroll, Calypso

Strophe

Crete

B.C.

Thesus

Strophe, Anti-strophe, and the Stationary, Mythology

Strut, The

USA

1900?

Uncle Tom's Cabin [1903], Hallelujah [1929], Music Box Revue?

Paul Whiteman, Cakewalk

Strut, The Champion

USA

c.1940s?

See Marge and Gower Champion

Cakewalk, Charleston, Jitterbug - mix

Sturlungasaga

Sweden?

n/a

n/a

Strophe, Faroe

Styrienne

n/a

n/a

Fanny Essler

Cachucha, Varsovienne, Tarantella

Sugar Foot

No. Carolina

c.1930s

Pre-cursor to the AM Shag, although was name of a few patterns as well.

Shag, Flea Hop, Balboa, Jitterbug, Break Away, West Coast, 1923 -Sugar Foot Stomp-s/m

Supreme Swing

Oklahoma

?

Named by Jerry Crim

West Coast Swing, Push, Whip, Sophisticated, Western Swing, Carolina Shag, Rock & Roll

Surfer Stomp

USA

1960's

Side, Cross, Side, Stomp - repeat (solo or couple)

Fad, NC2, Twist, Disco

Suzy - Q

USA

1937

n/a

Big Apple, Truckin', Lindy Hop, Shim Sham

Swallow

Bavaria

n/a

n/a

Animal

Swing Dance

USA

1914-99

Folk Dance (Umbrella Term for all forms of swing. See right side --->)

Balboa, Big Apple, Boogie Woogie, Bop, BreakAway, Carolina Shag, Ceroc, Champion Strut, DC Hand Dance, ECS, Hustle, Jitterbug, Jive, Jitterbug-Jive, Leroc, Lindy Hop, Mooch, New Yorker, Pony, Push, Rock & Roll, Savoy Style, Shag, Shim Sham, Sophisticated Swing, Steppin, Supreme Swing, Suzy Q, Swag, Swango, Swop, Swustle, Texas Tommy, Truckin, WCS, Whip, and others.

Swing Trot

New York

1947

Fred Astaire

Foxtrot

Swing Waltz

n/a

1937

n/a

Waltz

Sword Dance

Rome

n/a

Spartans and Romans, Later Scotland (1058)

Mattachins, Highland Fling, Matassins, Gillie Callum, Moresque, Mooris