The Continental was a remake of the Carioca. The continental was never a big hit, however it was the first dance song to win a Oscar. The dance was debuted by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the "Gay Divorcee" in 1934 in which they danced for seventeen minutes.
The Apache dance, the Astaire, the Continental, the Carioca, the Piccolino and the Yam were more often done as exhibition dances rather than social dances. The Continental often used the 'Strut Step' of the Truckin' dance. Eventually the Continental just became an american ballroom pattern.
Also, there is a Round dance called the 'Continental Goodnight' which is done to the same named song, usually listed as a Two-Step.
The dance starts like a stately Minuet, where the man approaches the woman and bows and kisses her hand while doing the one step towards each other. As they come together, the Follower rest her head on the Leads shoulder and do a brief circular Foxtrot, while doing this the Lady lifts her head every other measure and gazes caringly at her partner...
1934 - The Continental
$ Continental (Conniff) ]< ]<
$ Beyond The Sea
$ Continental American ]<
Continental Bop
Continental Goodnight
$ 1934 - The Gay Divorcee
1952 - The Continental ?
1961 - Continental Twist ?
Yam
Lopez and Costello (1937)
Fred Astaire
Ginger Rogers
Modern Ballroom Dancing
Ray, Lillian
1938
Franklin
Ginger: My Story
Rogers, Ginger
1991
Harper Collins
Leroy And The Continentals
n/a
Ballrooms