African-American vernacular dance, which we call blues dance today, was done throughout the United States since the late 1800’s to the present. It was practiced and learned by watching others and dancing with friends and family in African-American spaces such as juke joints, house parties, rent parties, as well as ballrooms that were open to black people, such as the Savoy in New York city. Idioms are the dancing styles shared within various African-American communities that evolved over time and in conjunction with the style of blues music popular at that time and place. We can identify some of the earlier idioms through first hand accounts, film, photographs, and written sources.
Here’s background information on some of the blues idiom dances we teach in our bluesCENTRAL dance classes.
Chicago Triple
- 2018 Chicago Triple by London dancers
- 2018 Steve and Nadia practicing Chicago Triple
- Article on shuffle in blues music
- A basic and easy-to-hear slow Chicago Shuffle rhythm.
- Guitar and harmonica playing a simple Chicago triple with a shuffle rhythm with an emphasis on the 1 and the 3 in the harmonica.
Fishtail
- 2015 Nicole Trissell demonstrating Fishtail as solo movement
Four Corners
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- 2015 Nicole Trissell demonstrating Fishtail as solo movement
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Funky Butt
- 2019 The Funky Butt by Obsidian blue
- 2015 Nicole Trissell demonstrating Funky Butt as solo movement
The Grind
- 2019 The Grind by Obsidian Blues
- 2015 Nicole Trissell demonstrating the Grind as solo movement
The Mooch
- 2015 Nicole Trissell demonstrating the Mooch as solo movement
Piedmont Triple
- 2019 Piedmont Blues by Obsidian Blues
- 2018 Piedmont blues by London dancers
- 2017 Blues dance Instructors Ruth and Mike dancing Piedmont Triple
- Competition Savoy Walk at North Star Blues Festival, Minneapolis, 2017 Piedmont is shown in beginning of video followed by other idiom dances.
Savoy Walk
- 2018 blues dance instructors Adam and Krystal Wilkerson practicing Savoy Walk
- A Brief Introduction to Savoy Walk article (by Damon Stone?) with historical video clips
- Shawn Hershey and Laura Chienko, national level instructors from New York demonstrate Savoy Walk
- Competition Savoy Walk at North Star Blues Festival, Minneapolis, 2017 Savoy walk at markers 5:00 – 8:05
- Myryam and Marc, Philadelphia demonstrate Savoy Walk for class
Slow Drag
- 2019 Slow Drag by Obsidian Blues
- 2018 ‘A Landscape of Slow Drag’ article by bluesyjune
- 2016 blues dance instructors Julie Brown and Shawn Hershey dancing slow drag
- 2016 Interview on Slow Drag presented by blues dance instructors Julie Brown and Shawn Hershey
- 1941 film, ‘The Blood of Jesus’ with slow drag dancing.
- 1929 film, ‘St Louis Blues’ with Singer Bessie Smith dancing the slow drag at 12:23-13:15
The Strut
- 2018 blues instructors Laura Chienko and Clyde Wright dancing The Strut
- 2019 The Strut by Obsidian Blues
The Stride
- 2018 blues instructors Krystal and Adam Wilkerson practicing The Stride
Struttin’
- 2017 blues instructors Grace Jones Taylor and Nick DeWitt Struttin’
- 2016 blues instructors Julie Brown and Shaun Hershey Struttin’
- 2014 blues instructors Grace Jones Taylor and Nick DeWitt Struttin’ to live music
Texas Shuffle
- 2018 blues dance instructors Laura Chienko and Clyde Wright demonstration of Texas Shuffle
- 2017 blues dance instructors Kelsey Stone and Ross Blythe dancing Texas Shuffle
- 2017 blues dance instructors Sarah Lokay and Ross Blythe dancing Texas Shuffle
- Article on shuffle in blues music
- Best explanation of a shuffle from a drummer’s perspective and specifically identifies emphasis on the 2 and 4 as Texas shuffle.
- Another drummer describes shuffle, breaks it down, and also explains how the Texas Shuffle emphasis is on the 2 and the 4.