| |
|
|
|
- The Camel Walk was a ragtime animal dance, came
originally from Vaudeville shows. The Camel Walk was mainly
done by college students and "flappers" during the
Jazz
age in the 1910's and 20's with the public as a social dance.
It was basically done with a Staright Up (Posture) but otherwise
was walking 1920's fox-trot from start to end while dragging
your steps slightly, done to slow music and in a zigzag direction
or rotary direction. The Camel Walk drew alot of displeasure
among many mainly because the Girls woul rest their heads on
the leaders shoulder while dancing which many frowned upon as
vulgar dancing. Occasionally the dance was varied with Fox-Trot
steps by those who disliked anything quite so extreme. |
| Another
version was done in the 1950's/60's:
- The Camel Walk spin-offs of the 1910's became a popular retro
dance to do at the time in the 1950's/60's, however these spin-off's
were freestyle rather than couples. With such dances as the
Camel Walk, Dance the Camel Walk, The Camel Walk Stroll etc
... It is said the the Horse dance was just another Camel Walk.
The Camel Walk became the Stroll in the 1960's.
- The two signature step's of the Camel Walk was the ronde or fan (rotary-walk rather than a gait or a
transverse walk?) of the leg, and the high slow lifting walking step forward. There is also the 'knee pop' variation with
the leg hooking behind the other. Boogie Walks / Shorty George are related to the Camel walk. |
|
Birth Place |
Creation Date |
Creator |
Dance Type |
| USA |
1920? |
Vaudeville |
Ragtime / Animal |
Posters, Lobby Cards etc. |
Sheet Music Covers |
Music Titles ... |
| n/a |
n/a |
1919 - Camel Walk Blues |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1921 - Camel Walk (Ted Lewis) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1935 - The Camel Walk (Nichols, Smith-Brymn) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1937 - Camel Hop (Goodman) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1958 - Camel Walk Stroll (Mattice) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1959 - Pink Camel Walk (Four Daddy'o's) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1961 - Camel Walk |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1967 - The Camel Walk (James Brown) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Camel Toe |
Night Clubs |
Theaters |
Locations |
| Skinny's Shoeshine Parlor
|
n/a |
n/a |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Films / Videos |
Ballets / Stage |
| 1915 - Family Adopts a Camel, The |
n/a |
| 1960 - American Musical Theatre |
|
|
|
| $
1988 - Hairspray [DVD] |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Dancers |
|
Political |
Publications |
| |
|
|
3/6/1921 - Kansas City Star (Alligator Glide Displaces Camel
Walk) |
| |
|
|
5/12/1921 - Syracuse Herald (Jury doesn't Like Camel Walk) |
| Al
Minns |
|
|
12/8/1921 - Bridgeport Telegram (Camel Walk Horrifies Lady) |
| Chicken Hicks ? |
|
|
9/27/1922 - Syracuse Herald (Camel Walk, Tango) |
| Josephine
Baker |
|
|
|
| Leon
James |
|
|
|
Musicians / Bands |
Singers |
Poets / Writers |
| Benny Goodman |
n/a |
n/a |
| Benny Gordon |
|
|
|
| Bob Mattice |
|
|
|
| Bobby Rush |
|
|
|
| James Brown |
|
|
|
| Johnnie And Jack |
|
|
|
|
| Ted Lewis And His Band |
|
|
|
|
| T.J. Fowler |
|
|
|
|
Woody Herman |
|
|
|
|
Misc. Research Words that may be related
... to help your searches |
| Canter |
Glide |
Slide |
The Stroll |
| Collegiate |
Hassapiko |
Step |
Trot |
Drag |
Hop |
Stomp |
|
Flappers |
March |
Stroll |
|
Gaite |
Saunter |
Strut |
|
|
Other... |
| Basic
Steps:
- This step is done with a long tension on every
step, as if a heavy weight was attached to each foot, and
the direction is diagonally back and forth and yet advancing
at the same time. First measure of music, One walking step
forward with left foot, then the right foot.
Second measure:
- The left foot takes a long step. (The Cam el Walk),
dragging step to the right, the right foot then makes a half
circle or pivot around to the left. The left foot then makes
a sweeping pivot or semicircle (ronde) to the right and
circling around to the left. The right foot again makes the
sweeping pivot or circle, continuing the direction to the left
and coming around in the half pivot or semicircle to the right.
Third measure:
- One walking step with the left foot to the right, second
walking step with right foot toward the right, third walking
step with left foot toward the right, fourth walking step
toward the right, which gives a diagonal direction.
Fourth measure:
- Four walking steps forward commencing with the left foot.
Then the Fox Trot Steps may be introduced and the Camel commences
to stalk again or the Camel figures just given may be continued
in a reversed direction. Any combination may be utilized following
the will of the leader as long as it is slow and dragging
in the Camel steps. |
|
August 1, 2006
|
http://www.Streetswing.com/histmain/d5index.htm |
|
|
|
|
©1999 www.StreetSwing.com |