Social Dancing in America: A History and Reference Volume 2 Lindy Hop to Hip Hop, 1901-2000

This two volume set relates the history of the most popular social dances, where they began, which dances survived the test of time and why, and what attracted American men and women to social dancing in these periods. Unlike other books on social dancing that taught people How to Dance, this books not only describes the dances, but also WHY Americans danced. This two volume companion set is the most comprehensive collection of American social dance from the first settlements in 1607 through the birth of the nation in 1776 and into the beginning of the 21st century. Social Dancing in America encompasses the global nature of the ethnic contributions to the formation of many unique American social dances. Those influences included the Native American Indian, Spanish, Caribbean, African, European, and other ethnic cultures that created original American social dances such as the Lindy Hop, Rock n' Roll, the Twist, Disco, Breakdancing, and Hip Hop. The book is also a celebration of the American spirit embodied among everyday individuals as they danced for fun, recreation, and family celebrations such as weddings.

During the twentieth century, social dancing in itself offered a parallel of the social, economic, and cultural traditions of each particular time period. For example, segregation and the Jim Crow mentality was cemented in place all over the United States and for most of the century dancing and dancing halls were strictly segregated. Segregation forced a mass migration from the south to northern cities and with it a transformation of the Delta Blues music into an American original - Jazz. Jazz gave birth to the Charleston Dance, as well as evolving into swing music and the Lindy Hop. In the latter part of the 20th-century, with the technological advancement of television, shows such as American Bandstand, Soul Train, Dance Fever, and eventually the MTV generation greatly influenced dance styles and the current new trend in dancing such as Rock n' Roll, Freestyle, Disco, Breakdancing, and Hip Hop.

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5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: May-18-2009; reference social dance book review; I don't know if it is the best reference book about social dancing, but it is a very good one. I also don't know another reference book about social dancing to compare. I especially appreciate knowing that Arthur Murrey did indeed...; read full review | report as inappropriate

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Nov-09-2008; Despite its limitations, a must-have text; This is the only book (well, two-volume set) I know of that attempts to provide a comprehensive history of social dancing in the United States. For that reason alone, it is a must-have for social dance fanatics like myself despite the...; read full review | report as inappropriate

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Aug-18-2007; A GREAT Review for this book; Lawrence Looks at Books: Gale Virtual Reference LibraryProfessional architect-turned-social historian Ralph Giordano has transformed his enthusiasm for dancing into an entertaining survey of this popular social activity. The author...; read full review | report as inappropriate

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Feb-04-2007; Author's Comments; As the author, I definitely wanted to write a scholarly contribution to the very much overlooked American cultural development of Social dancing, however, I wanted to present it in a writing style that would appeal to the average...; read full review | report as inappropriate

Selected Reviews

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: May-18-2009; reference social dance book review; I don't know if it is the best reference book about social dancing, but it is a very good one. I also don't know another reference book about social dancing to compare. I especially appreciate knowing that Arthur Murrey did indeed...; read full review | report as inappropriate