Flappers dance the Charleston.
The famous Charleston grew popular during the 1920s, as dance halls and nightclubs featured fast-paced jazz music perfect for a swinging, improvisational dance. Named for a song written by James P. Johnson in 1923, the Charleston became the signature dance of the Roaring Twenties. The simple, basic Charleston steps are just a platform for all kinds of free-flowing moves that are limited only by your imagination.
Four Charleston Steps
The dance partners face each other squarely and stand close together. The leader's right hand goes on the follower's upper back. The follower's left hand goes on the leader's right shoulder. The leader's left hand holds the follower's right hand at the side.
On the first beat, the leader puts weight on the right foot and slides the left foot back, while the follower moves the right foot forward. The sliding feet make a short kick. Keep the arms loose and move in time to the feet--as if you're walking fast.
On the second beat, the dancers move their feet back to the starting position and shift their weight to the feet that just moved.
On the third beat, the leader moves the right foot forward, while the follower moves the left foot back. They follow the move with a short kick.
On the fourth beat, the feet move back to the starting position and the weight shifts again to the feet that just moved. The partners can try side kicks or short hops and jumps, release their hands to thrust their arms or flap them up and down (as "flappers" did), move apart and spin or break up to go solo.
Solo Improv
Solo Charleston is danced with the same steps, but without a partner and with the arms completely free; all kinds of improvisation are possible. The arms can bend and extend from the side, or thrust into the air. Legs kick to the side and front in time to the beat. The body twists and swerves or goes "around the world"--spins completely around. The classic solo Charleston move is to place the hands on the knees and move the knees back and forth with the arms crossing. There's no limit to the moves; all you is need is fast music in 4/4 time and a sense of fun.
