- The One-Step is said to be of American origin and is a very simple and easily dance to learn and to perform. Many of the dances of the day (1910s) such as the Turkey Trot and Grizzly Bear steps were modified to fit the one step, sometimes called the Walking Step and the Collegiate Foxtrot was basically a One Step as well. The American One-Step is said to be done in Dog Trot Style (dancing on the balls of feet) and was mixed with the above dances. The One-Step eventually gave way to the modern Quick-Step as they were originally pretty much the same dance.

- The English One-Step (a tamer version than American) was introduced to the states in 1911 and when danced to the new Ragtime music, and became a hit. The One Step has been stated and written many times as been introduced by Vernon and Irene Castle around 1912, they state it was better known as the Castle Walk and as a Fox-trot variation. Contrary to this there

is much written material on the dance that dates back to the mid to late 1800's as well as sheet music that is stated for "a one-step" that predates the Castle's claim by many years. However with the advent of the Castle Walk, the two dances eventually MERGED and became one using slow walks instead of quick walks, (music for the One Step was slower, than that of the Castle Walk.)

- Most likely, no one invented the One-Step, as it probably just happened, a folk dance if you will. Since the Waltz was becoming extremely popular, the dancers probably just started doing a Single-step inplace of a Triple-step, and started walking, later applying it to other music such as 2/4 and 4/4 time which was even MORE SO if you didn't know how to waltz at the time, you could learn the One Step in five minutes.

- Basically the dance was just a brisk walking step to each beat of music and was done just as the name implies. Usually done to march type music for best results (When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, Stars and Stripes Forever etc.). A smooth movement was desired, trying to avoid bent knees while dancing the One Step with plenty of "pep." The dance was basically a walk on each beat of music ... Pattern length's were eight beats in length.

Films / Movies

Television

Ballets / Stage

Publications

3/15/1913 - Fort Wayne Sentinel (the One Step)

Other Related Dances of the time...

Aeroplane Waltz

Collegiate Foxtrot

Horse Trot

Peabody, the

Two-Step

Apache

Cubanola Glide

Lame Duck

Serpentine One Step

Quick Step

Bunny Hug

Dew Drop

Lambeth Walk

Skip One Step, the

Waltz

Buzzard Lope

Fox-Trot

Maxixe

Tango

Gaby Glide

Maurice Walk (1912)

Texas Tommy

Castle Glide

Grizzly Bear

Novelette, the

Turkey-Trot

Castle-Walk

Dancers, Choreographers etc.

Political

Carlos Sebastian

Joseph Santley

Dolly Sisters

Maurice and Walton 

Gaby Deslys

S. Hepburn Wilson

Henry Ford

Vernon & Irene Castle

Joan Sawyer

...Most dancers of the time

Books, Magazine Articles on the dance...

Title

Author

Date Published

Publisher

Dances of Today

Newman, Albert

1914

Penn publishing

The Tango and Other Up-to-date Dances

Hopkins, J.S.

1914

Saafield & Co.

Three Modern Dances

Victor Talking Machine

1914

-

Latest Method, Home Instruction by Mail

Frank, Charles J.

1922

The Beacon Academy

Let's Dance

Murray, Arthur

1937

StandardBrands Inc.

How to become a good dancer

Murray, Arthur

1942

Simon and Schuster

Dance Encyclopedia

Chujoy, Anatole

1949

A.S. Barnes

Musicians

Singers

Poets / Writers

Dorsey's, the

John Phillip Sousa

Joseph Manone

Wilbur Sweatman

Misc. Research Words that may be related ... to help your searches

Basic Step ...

There are three different styles of dancing a One-Step:
Type 1: With a stiff knee and a slight up-jerk on each step.
Type 2: Both feet on the ground the whole time, each step being a glide on the floor.
(The second type was the style usually seen in England; it is quite orthodox but rather waning in "pep").
Type 3: Foot just off the floor at each step, the steps being in the nature of a miniature leap from ball of the foot to ball of the foot. (The third was the usual American style.)

The dance is simply "Four Walking Steps" with the Leader starting the dance going Backwards, starting with the left foot and the Follower going Forward with the Right Foot. On the fourth step theres is a slight "Dip" but no sway of the shoulders. This repeats again, but the couple turns around or reverses. The dance is somewhat similar to the Turkey Trot dance without the suggestivness. Some pattern names in the dance are the Shadow, The Manchester, Swing Drop, Novellette, Drop Step and the Beverley.

A mixture of all three styles is perhaps the ideal; it is really a question of what sort of "mood" they were feeling while dancing, perhaps different music would change the mood;

It has been written to avoid dipping the shoulders, rolling the body, and pump-handle action with the arms (arms similar to the Texas Two-step for some), these idiotic actions are very unseemly. Do not turn the toes outward or inward, keep them straight, and rise on the ball of the foot. Dance as a rule exactly opposite your partner; dancing at the side is out-of-date (Peabody), except for certain variety movements which should be only occasionally performed and for short periods.

July 28, 2006

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