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There is not much written on
the Peabody. The Peabody was named after William
Frank Peabody (born ?1878?), a controversial N.Y.
Police Lieutenant (some say Fireman) who loved to dance around
1915, shortly after the invention of the Fox-Trot.
The Peabody was basically a unique, jaunty type fast fox-trot, done
to ragtime music . It is based more around a dance
position (called the "English") which lead to some unique
steps or patterns.
The dance position (or English) comes from the
need by Peabody's huge size to hold his partner on his right side
to accommodate his size (girth). The One Step and Peabody
went on to become the (modern) Quick-step
with a splash of Charleston thrown in. The Quickstep bears very
little resemblance to the dance of the Peabody today, however some
of the steps remain the same.
The Peabody is kinda a corny
little ragtime dance, that is lively and fun spirited to watch and
looks like the participants are having a good time doing it. The
music is ragtime (50mpm+) and so is the dress. (Suits
and Bowler derby's for the man and long full dresses for the lady.)
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The basic step is a Cross-Step and Lock step (1920) and the
body position is that of "Right-Outside Position" (almost
a promenade?). The travelling speed around the floor is quite
brisk with the leader changing sides as he travels around the floor
and some slight dipping motions here and there, similar to the rolling
of a wave.
On April 21st., 1934 at the Casa Del
Rey Nightclub , there was a huge Peabody Contest. The T.V.
Show "Dance Fever" had a couple of dancers dance the Peabody
in the 1980's.
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Birth Place |
Creation Date |
Creator |
Dance Type |
New York |
1915 |
William Frank Peabody |
Ballroom |
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Posters, Lobby Cards etc. |
Sheet Music Covers |
Music Titles |
| n/a |
1857 - Peabody Polka (Not
Related) |
By The Beautiful Sea |
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1857 - Peabody Schottische
(Not Related) |
With All My Heart |
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1869 - Peabody's Funeral March
(Not Related) |
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1871 - Washington Elm Quickstep
(Not Related) |
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| (above sheet music is not this Peabody dance music, just has the name in the title.) |
Night Clubs |
Theaters |
Locations |
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Films / Movies |
Ballets / Stage |
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Film |
Publications |
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Dancers, Choreographers etc. |
Political |
?Katherine Clemmons? (supposed partner
of Frank) |
Betty White |
Gould/Clemmons |
| William Frank Peabody |
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Books, Magazine Articles on the dance... |
Title |
Author |
Date Published |
Publisher |
Complete Book Of Ballroom Dancing |
Stephenson |
1980 |
Doubleday |
Musicians |
Bands |
Singers |
Poets / Writers |
George Peabody, ESQ. |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
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Misc. Research Words that may be related
... to help your searches |
Ragtime |
Flapper |
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Hip Flask |
Derby's |
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Jazz |
WWI |
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Francis Peabody (song Wash elm was dedicated
to her) |
Other...
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Basic Steps:
4/4
(leaders part below starts left foot, followers are reverse)
the count: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (all quicks)
Fwd. - Fwd. - Side - Back (turning to right),
Back - Back - Side - Forward (turning to right), then repeat.
Partner is kept to one side, almost a promenade position except partner
faces partner, alongside. The steps are basically walking quickly to each beat with
a jaunty sway side to side on each step i.e.:
1 sway/step left, 2 sway/step right etc.
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