Re: land of 1,00 dances

["Th. Walls" <afn62971@xxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 1 Feb 1999, Marielle Brown wrote:

> Listening to 'Jump Jive and Harmonize' today, I wanted to get up and
> dance, but I don't know how to do the alligator, the frug, the
> watussi, the mashed potatoes, the monkey......  I hear songs about
> these dances, but I've never seen them done.  Can anyone recommend any
> old movies that feature a lot of dancing, so those of us who grew up
> busting a move with MC Hammer can learn how to shake a tail feather?  

I think the trendy disco movie "54" has the song "Disco Duck," or at least
it should. In the song, the duck voice says "Shake your tailfeather, baby!
kwa kwa kwa kwa." 

There is some dance info here:

http://www.eijkhout.net/rad/dance_specific/novelty.html

Also, arthurmurray.com has a dance dictionary:

"FRUG: The Frug was born from a dance called the Chicken which had a lateral
body movement and was used as a change of pace during the Twist. So as the
kids grew lazier they decided to do less work, and started moving only their
hips while standing still. As the hips swing from side to side they started
making up arm movements for the dance. From this came the Swim, the Monkey,
the Dog, the Watusi, the Waddle or Wabble and the Jerk. Some of these dances
are named with localities. What we call the Frug is often called the Surf,
Big Bea and Thunderbird, with the Swim being born out of it. What we call
the Watusi is also known as Wabble and Waddle. The Monkey, Dog, Bump and
Jerk fall roughly into the same category."


"Jump, Jive and Harmonize" is my fave for dancin' ravers. If ya don't dig it
you are a square, no exceptions.

Tom Walls