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The
Break-A-Way ... was originally a syncopated Two-step, the couple
would split or breakaway from each other still holding hand (s)
and perform a solo impromptu of the same rhythm/beat of the music
and come back together again. The Breakaway was the name of swing
before being named the Lindy
Hop. The Breakaway was a cross between the "Texas
Tommy, Two-step,
Apache
Dance, Turkey
Trot, Cakewalk
and Grizzly
Bear.
- Prior dances with the exception
of the Apache and Texas Tommy did not have sections that you "Broke-away"
from your partner (Danced in open position), they mainly
danced in closed position. A popular step in all swing today
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as
well as yesteryear is for the leader to take his left hand/ followers
right hand down and behind the followers back as she turns away
from him, this originated in the infamous "Apache
Dance" and was used in the Texas
Tommy a little later... some dancers today still call this
move the "Texas Tommy" while others call it the
"Apache Whip/ Turn." During this time away (apart)
from each other, the follower would stay out for "X"
number of beats then the leader would pull follower back into
closed position. Occasionally they would show off their >Tap
dance ability and syncopate their steps while in this "Open"
position.
- The Break-A-Way was only danced
by African-Americans at the time. Whites were just starting
to find
entertainment in Harlem and were not very fond of "Race Music"
(the blues), they just were not quite ready to dance those
"Negro Dances" of those (unfortunate)
racially segregated times. It was mainly danced to slow to medium
Ragtime music and Blues. >Shorty
George Snowden
was the "King" of the Break-A-Way in the mid
1920's.
- When the Charleston
became popular in the 1920's, the Breakaway and Charleston merged,
as Harlem grew, it to grew. The "Break-A-Way"
was now ready to be called the "Lindy
Hop" but would take a Newspaper, a Dance Contest , a
man named "Shorty George" Snowden and the "Savoy
Ballroom" to do
so in 1927/28.
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The Breakaway eventually lost alot of the Turkey
Trot and Grizzly
bear, however the Texas Tommy, Charleston, Cakewalk
and Apache
remain in the Lindy Hop to this day!. The breakaway as a dance
is no longer done today however. The Landler
of the 1720's also used a breakaway/ freestyle basic as a variation
to the dance, it was almost described as a "solo Jam",
done by the man.
|
Birth Place |
Creation Date |
Creator |
Dance Type |
| n/a |
1910s |
n/a |
Swing
/Jazz |
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Posters, Lobby Cards etc. |
Sheet Music Covers |
Music Titles |
| House
Rent Party |
1914
- Aunt Jemima Slide |
1929
- The Break Away |
| Jazz
Baby Blues |
1929
-
The Breakaway |
Once
It Gets You, You'll Never Breakaway |
| Juke
Joint |
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1910
- That Mississippi Mooch
(Hyerta Pryme) |
Breakaway
Blues |
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Night Clubs |
Theaters |
Locations |
| Juke
Joints |
n/a |
New
Orleans |
| Savoy
Ballroom |
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New
York |
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Films / Movies |
Television |
Ballets / Stage |
| 1929
- Fox Movietone Follies |
n/a |
n/a |
| $
At The Jazz Band Ball (DVD) |
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| Louis
Armstrong Short |
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Publications |
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n/a |
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Books, Magazine Articles on the dance... |
| Title |
Author |
Date
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Publisher |
| Fox
Movietone Follies Booklet |
Fox
Author |
1929 |
Fox |
| Dancing-
The Pleasure, Power & Art of Movement |
Jonas,
Gerald Jonas |
1992 |
Abrams |
| Jazz
Dance |
Stearns,
Jean & Marshall |
1994 |
DaCapo
Press |
Musicians |
Bands |
Singers |
Poets / Writers |
| Louis
Armstrong |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
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Misc. Research Words that may be related ... to help your searches |
| Race
Music |
Flappers |
n/a |
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| Savoy
Ballroom (1925-29) |
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Sheet
Music Words
- The Breakaway:
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| Hey
Flappers ... This Way,
Hey Flappers ... Let's do the Break Away...
Sheet Music Words - You'll Never Breakaway...
Hot! What! "The Breakaway"
Wow! How! "The Breakaway"
Catch This Dance! See Sue Prance
Once You See It, Your Feet Can't Make A Stay!
Once It Gets You, You'll Never Breakaway!.
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