The Kinkajou was a lively dance for young people. It coud be done as a solo, group or coupes dance. It was created by Mrs. Edna Passapae (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 place 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 is said to only need a good Foxtrot song to guide it.
This dance placed first pick by the D.M.A. (Dance Masters of America) 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.
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