The Apache (pronounced A-Posh or A-Poe-Shay) dance originated in the Parisian lower classes. The USA pronounces it akin to the american Indian of the same spelling, however there is no connection to the American Apache Indian whatsoever.
The Apache Dance was first reported as a domestic street fight between two men and a woman in the 'Montmartre section' of Paris in the front of a night club that was indirectly responsible for the name "Apache." A local Parisian gazette journalist reported that "The fury of a riotous incident (a fight) between two men and a women rose to the ferocity of savage Apache Indians in battle." These participants, proud of their reported deed, formed "Apache Bands" which were actually street gangs that would become known as "les Apaches."
These Apaches or "Gunmen of Paris" created their own type of dancing which reenacted the actions of that reported night at many "Caveau des innocents" (underworld clubs.) The apache was billed as the "Dance Of The Underworld" for very valid reasons.
There were no real steps, patterns or routines per-say, however the 'Gunmen of Paris' acted out their story in Pantomime which was done to Waltz or Tango music. The females were very strenuously embraced and acted out signs of fear, but at the same time devotion. Knives would be drawn by male and/or female and the women were slapped, pushed, dragged and generally thrown roughly all over the place by the ruthless, savage, violent acting male, in essence a domestic fight between two lovers or a pimp and his whore, and at times a jealousy spawned cat fight, etc. The dance is an intense, brutal looking dance, but is not vulgar, rather a dance of primitive passion between a man and a woman (and no the male did not always win the battle.) While "Slumming" became popular to the upper classes during this time, the upper classes enjoyed watching the antics of these Apache Bands and in a modified dance which would help fuel much of its social limelight. Altho briefly tried, the dance proved to be too rough for the social dance floor and remained an exhibition only dance. Some of the ladies that danced the Apache had died during their performance of broken backs, necks etcetera, due to the inexperience by some attempting to cash in on it's fame or make a name for themselves.
This dance was somewhat similar to the tango and some folks would eventually confused this dance with the tango. The tango does share some of the Apache and vise-a-versa still to this day. Some say the dance came from the Can-Can, which is highly unlikely. The Whirlwind Waltz is reported to have many apache similarities. The Apache reached its highest level of acceptance in the early 1900's but soon died out and was replaced by the smoother and more graceful, socially do-able Tango.
Rudolph Valentino has been reported to not have really known the Tango but was an expert Apache dancer who faked the tango dance, doing instead a toned down Apache, which is somewhat apparent in a few of his films (Rogues Romance.) Mr. Joseph Smith imported the dance from Paris to New York around 1904. Maurice Mouvet was one of the leaders in its popularity here in the states as well. Also the Apache dance was the first step (aka Apache Whip in West Coast Swing) of the Texas Tommy and Breakaway dances of the time which was used later in the Lindy Hop. In 1902 Kid Foley and Sailor Lil made one of the earliest silent films about this dance called "A Tough Dance" which was the Apache Dance (See Bottom).
The Apaches Gangs were a real and dangerous lot of criminals that took hold in Paris in the early 1900's. These Gunmen of Paris (altho most used Knives rather than Guns, the upper ranks did however, called Sidis), they stayed in many dives called Doss Houses. A kind of safe house if you will. The women folk of these gangs would usually get the attention of a tourist or guest just long enough that the male(s) Apache would strike. These Apache gangs were real bad news to unsuspecting people. The most notorious Gang to date was known as "Les Apache".
As Upper crest society got bored, many of these gangsters found good money in hiring out their dance services for the bored female aristocrats, the more blood thirsty an Apache was know for in real life, the more money he was paid as a dance partner for an hour. The average "Apache for Hire" (Thug) made around $10 - $20 a dance or $100.00 for an hour of dancing with the real bad ones making much more. Many notorious real Apaches like Jules Jacques aka "The Tiger," Little Scarlip, Louis The Strangler, Raoul the Butcher, learned that slitting throats was not as profitable as the re-telling of the tale to these bored, refined ... umm ... upper class ladies who craved abysmal sensations that these criminals could provide.
The 1915/1916 Film 'Les Vampires' directed by Louis Feuillade is a seven hour silent film that was made in Paris during WWI that depicts many of the real Parisian Underworld Gangs (aka: Gunmen of Paris), notably the 'Vampires Gang.' This is not a Vampire/cult film as the name might suggest but rather a film made about the Parisian Underworld and especially a real life Apache Gang called the Vampires. There is some great Apache dance scenes of them doing the famous Apache dance that is not a "re-created" but the real life, actual Apache dancers doing this dance. It is an excellent silent film (altho sub-titled in english) even without the Apache dance scenes. If your interested in the Apache dance or its connections, this is a must have film for you. Available on DVD here. (Thanks to Steve Ross for this films info).
Paris, France
late 1880's
"The Gunmen of Paris" (les Apaches)
Exhibition
Amabassadeurs
The Apache Dance 1
1910 - Apache Dance (Diamonds)
Can-Can (Poster)
The Apache Dance 2
1922 - The Apache
Casino de Paris
Gigolette
1936 - Apache Dance
Folies Bergere
Apache (Incredible Bongo Band)
Gigolette's of Paris
la Valse Chaloupée (Official waltz of the Apache song) aka: Vals Chalupa Shallop
les Apaches des Paris
les danse modernes
$ Old Montmartre[IMPORT] CD
Moulin Rouge
$ Can Can Soundtrack CD
$ Famous Ballet Music 2 (Gaite) CD
$ Orpheus in the Underworld CD
Bell Theater (Melle & Dorey 1919)
Montmarte, Paris
Broadway, New York
Folies Bergere - Paris, France
Latin Quarter (s)
Moulin Rouge - Paris
Palais De Danse - NY & Paris
1890s - Babe Johnson's Tough Dance (Killiam #5)
1908 - L' Amour de l'Apache
1902 - A Tough Dance (Silent - see library of Congress site)
1909 - Apache Dance (directed by Frank Danvers Yates)
1910 - Bébé apache
1915 - The Apaches of Paris
1913 - New York Revue
1916 - Joey's Apache Mania
1914 - Hands Up
(1915) 1916 - Les Vampires [ DVD ] (by Louis Feuillade, Paris)
1919 - L' Apache (Dorothy Dalton does the Apache)
1924 - I'll Say She Is!" (D'Andrea and Walters)
1924 - Innocent Eyes (Mistinguett)
1920 - Le Lys de la vie
1923 - The Apache Dancer
1925 - The Apache
1929 - The Little Show
1925 - Crimson Runner, the (Priscilla Dean plays and does Apache)
1937 - Blake Of Scotland Yard
Queen of the Moulin Rouge
1928 - The Apaches of Paris
1928 - Released from Bondage
1935 - Bolero
$ 1935 - Charlie Chan In Paris
1939 - Montmarte Madness (Short)
$ 1944 - Pin-Up Girl
$ Guide de Montmarte
1949 - Slightly French
$ Moulin Rouge
1949 - It's a Great Feeling (Dennis Morgan / Jack Carson - Apache)
$ Moulin Rouge (1884-1904)
$ The Moulin Rouge
$ 1952 - Lovely To Look At
$ 1952 - Moulin Rouge (maybe has Apache?)
2/9/1909 - NY Times
$ 1952 - Singin' in the Rain [ DVD]
$ 2001 - Moulin Rouge [ DVD] (sort of)
$ Grindhouse Follies Vol. 4 (Adult Burlesque shorts)
Popeye Cartoon "Apache Dancer" (8mm coast film)
Fresh Prince Will Smith Apache Parody
3/4/1923 - Lima News (Dance of Death Article)
Aeroplane Waltz
Charleston
Hippo hop
March
Skirt Dance
Apache Dance
Chicken Flip
Honey Bug
Maxixe
Slow Drag
Argentine Ardor
Collegiate
Hooche Cooche
Mooch and Sugar
Syncopated Canter
Arizona Anguish
Collegiate Foxtrot
Horsetrot
Necktie Waltz
Tango
Bacchanalian Waltz
Collegiate Shag
Hug-Me-Tight
One Step
Terrapin Toddle
Boll Weevil Wiggle
Dewey Dip
Innovation
Ostrich Stretch
Texas Tommy
Boston Dip
Dizzy Drag
Jazzarimba
Pavlova Gavotte
Toddle
Break away
Fado Foxtrot
Kangaroo Canter
Peabody
Turkey Trot
Bunny Hug
Foxtrot
Kangaroo Waltz
Pickaninny Dandle
Two-Step
Buzzard Lope
Fuzzy-Wuzzy
Kitchen Sink
Pollywog Wiggle
Varsity Drag
Cabbage Clutch
Gaby Glide
Lambeth Walk
Puppy Snuggle
Walkin' The Dog
Camel Walk
Gilda Glide
Lame Duck
Quickstep
Waltz
Cantor Waltz
Grizzly Bear
Lemon Squeeze
Salome dance
Wiggle-de-Wiggle
Cartel Waltz
Grizzly Glide
Lindy Hop
Shadow Dance
Whirlwind Waltz
Castle Walk
Hesitation Waltz
Love Dance
Shimmy*
Maurice Tango
LuLu Fado
Shiver Shake*
Chinese Apache Dance (scene from China Town with Walters & D'Andrea, c1924)
Ada Terrill, Miss (Houston, TX Delegate)
Marge & Gower Champion [1940s]
Frank Mazzone & Gypsy [1923] Abbott Troupe [1949]
Maurice Mouvet, Jeannette and Florence Walton [1905]
Alexandre Vlad [1905]
George Raft [1935]
Alonso and Pepita
Ambrogio Malerba [1960]
Gould & Surrat [1909]
Mistinguett & Max Dearly [1909]
Anita, Charles and Jack [1936]
Harry Walters & Cecile D'Andrea (1924)
Henny Porten [1906]
Molasso & Corio [1908]
Angel Cansino [1927]
Joan Crawford [1925]
Ned Wayburn [1927]
Angela Blue & Hermes Pan [1944]
John Jarrot [1940s]
Nick Stuart [1937]
Joseph C. Smith, Louise Alexander & Hamilton [1905]
Charles Sadler [1927]
Kid Foley and Sailor Lil' [1902]
Chanteuse Claire Waldorf [19??]
L. Hughes & B. Bennett
Shirley MacLaine & Juliet Prowse [1960]
Clifton Webb & Libby Holman [1929]
Laura Hamilton [1915]
Theodore Kosloff & Betty Compson [1914]
D'Andrea and Walters [1924]
Louise Alexander [1905]
Valentino [1920s]
De Revuelt [1927]
Vanda & Vladimer (Pathe Newsreel) [1930]
Walters & D'Andrea (c. 1924)
Ernest Belcher [1912 & 1927]
Etoile Lenoir (1922)
Hit! Magazine
3/5/1945
n/a
Maurice's art of dancing: an autobiographical sketch with complete descriptions
Maurice Mouvet
1915
Hinett, Art
Black Diamonds Band
Kees van Dongen (la Valse Chaloupée)
$ Offenbach
Incredible Bongo Band
Apache Dance (1933) Fred Gardner
Apache dance etching (Kurt Hilscher)
Apache Etching (Icart)
A-Posh
Bowery / Bowry
Les Apaches
Apache tanz
Gunmen of Paris
Les Montmatois
Ruffian
Argentine Tango
Latin Quarter
Montmartre'
Valse Chaloupée
"A Tough Dance" (Below is what I have, that is written about this film). Performers: Kid Foley, Sailor Lil. Duration: 0:45 at 15 fps. Catalog no. 2166; code name (for telegraphic orders) Garben. NCN046352; A tough dance. DLC Filmed June 19, 1902, at the Biograph New York City studio, perhaps on the roof.
Materials: listed originate from the paper print chosen best copy of two for digitization; for other holdings on this title, see the M/B/RS Paper Print database. DLC From either side of a white, apparently outdoors. Setting: enter a man and woman, both wearing ragged street clothes and caps. As they approach center stage, the man grabs the woman's arm and pulls her to him, then slaps her. Still holding her arm, the man and his partner cockily strut towards the camera. The man grabs the woman in a crouched, bear-hug type of hold and they perform a rough little dance that almost seems a parody of a waltz. In a jerky type of jitterbug, the man twirls the woman out of his hold and back again (the Apache Turn), a movement which is repeated often within their spinning dance. They finally fall to the ground, still clutching each other, and roll around. Also ... (From K.R. Niver, Early motion pictures, 1985): Two people imitate the celebrated dance of the French apache. As the film begins, a man dressed in rough clothing approaches a woman, also dressed in tattered garments, who is standing near the center of camera position. They begin to accentuate their shoulder movements and, at the end of the film, are hitting one another and rolling about on the floor. The participants were Kid Foley and Sailor Lil, who claimed to be the champion performers of this popular Bowery dance. Catalog no. 2166; code name (for telegraphic orders) Garben. NCN046352; A tough dance. DLC, Filmed June 19, 1902, at the Biograph New York City studio, perhaps on the roof.
The Apache Turn Explained: The 'Apache turn" (a dance pattern) in dance is also known as a dance pattern called the "Texas Tommy" in Lindy Hop and is done in many dances still today. It has the leader facing his partner in closed position with the leader taking his left arm (her right) down and behind the back of his partner with the ladies opposite hand (right) in his, which is also bent behind her back. The leader switches hands behind her back to his right hand and twirls or unwinds her away from him till her arm extends fully as she reaches open position facing him (or sideways,) then quickly twirls or wraps her back in again or reversing the previous action to the original starting closed position. There are a few variations of the pattern as well and is quite effective in all its variations.
Ballrooms