The Kinkajou was a lively dance for young people. It was created by Mrs. Edna Passpae after Ada May's dance routine she did in the stage version of Rio Rita. Edna debuted the dance at the Dance Master's of America (D.M.A.) Convention on August 22nd. 1927, which also won the first prize at the event. The Movie version had the Kinkajou in it with Dorothy Lee but was cut out of the film however the chorus from the original cast was still used in the film.
It is made up of simple elements combined to form a merry little rhythm: The strut step, little side steps, Glides, a heel step or grind in open position and the final step is a "Twinkle." It did have great variety, if you know your kinkajous, and was danced by old and young, the stout or thin, and only needed a good Foxtrot to guide it.
This dance placed first pick by the D.M.A. and The Kinkajou was said to "Be the dance to replace the Charleston and Black Bottom", however it did not. Other dances introduced along with the Kinkajou were the Dixie Stomp and Lindbergh Glide. The Photo (upper left) is of Mrs. Passapae and Mr. Webster doing a two armed wrap pattern from the Kinkajou in 1927.
There is also the small furry animal called a kinkajou, known as the "night walker" in Belize, is a nocturnal animal which lives among the upper canopy of the tropical forest. Don't know if there is any name relation to this but thought I would post it anyway.
The Kinkajou is known as an animal that is native to central America and seems to be a cross between a bear, an armadillo and a monkey. It looks like a bear except) that it is only about a foot long and has a long tail which has the grip of a boa constrictor. Its hands and feet are like those of a monkey. It seems this animal was of some interest in the Mid 1920s.
$ Following The Sun Around the Kinkajou (Rio Rita)
Kinkajou (Les Baxter)
8/29/1927 - Charleston Daily Mail (Kinkajou Article)
Baltimore, the
Stop Trot
Yankee Prance
Black Bottom
Lindbergh Wave Waltz
Strut
Waltz
Gigolo, the
? Masked Dance, the ?
Tango, the
Heebie Jeebies
The Tickle-Toe
Song Lyrics: The Kinkajou "When you do the Kinkajou, You dance before you think you do ..." The Tickle-Toe "Everybody ought to know, How to do the Tickle-Toe ..." Thou Swell "Thou swell! Thou witty! Thou sweet! ... Hear me holler, I chose a sweet Lollapaloosa in thee" Shuffle Off To Buffalo
"I'll go home and get my panties, You go home and get your scanties,
And away we'll go" Rhode Island Is Famous For You "Pencils come from Pencilvania, Vests from Vest Virginia, And tents from Tentasee..."
Ballrooms