capitalcitysteppers, Apr 19, 2010 Cheryl
"Sugarfoot" Powe (Sistas in
Sync) and Rick Wetherspoon (Chicago, IL) Steppin' in Greenville, NC.
This pancocojams post showcase one video of four couples social dances that came from various African American communities : The Philly Bop, Chicago Stepping, & Detroit Ballroom, & Washington D.C. Hand Dancing. *
Comments from these videos' discussion threads may also be included in this pancocojams post.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural,entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
*Editor's Notes:
Showcasing these particular videos doesn't mean to imply that this is the only way that these dances were performed or are performed now. There are multiple ways to perform these dances in the same time period within the same city, and in different time periods within different cities and states. Furthermore, there are different names for the same and similar dance movements dependant on where you live/d and when you lived there.
**
Chicago Stepping isn't the same as the steppin'[g] that originated with and is still most closely associated with historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR SHOWCASE VIDEO #1: CHICAGO STEPPING
(with numbers added for referencing purposes only.)
1. gerald ferguson, 2010
"This couple is SMOVVVVEEE with it...FOR REAL!!"
**
2. Lawona Gibson, 2011
"do anyone know the song they're steppin to"
**
Reply
3. Sharvin Whitted, 2011
"Willie Hutch - I Can Sho Give You Love"
**
4. Morning Push, 2021
"Rick is one of Chicago's best, I always enjoyed my dances
with him!"
****
OTHER SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are presented in alphabetical order based on the name of the dance that is being performed
DETROIT BALLROOM DANCING (also known as "Detroit Urban Ballroom")
Smooth Detroit Ballroom
DANCING IN THE BASEMENT, Jan 11, 2014
Just having fun with some smooth Detroit-Style Ballroom. You can do this dance on almost any song. It's fun and a great exercise. I find that when I am feeling down, I dance. I turn up the music and try to lose myself in the dance and song. You should try it. It does help.
Song - Don't Take It Personal (Extended Version)
Artist - Jermaine Jackson
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsBczebbw0A&t=50s
1. Mrsbruner, 2013
"Y'all so smoove wit it!"
**
2. kmaza, 2016
"Very elegant...."
**
3. Melvin Jordan, 2019
"Thanks for representing the “D”, looking marvelous!!!"
**
4. Ter E Rucks, 2019
"I may be from the Chi, but I like the Detroit Ballroom. lol"
****
THE PHILLY BOP
SHOWCASE VIDEO #3: Smooth and Silky
Franklin Riley, Dec. 2, 2015
-snip-
Here are selected comments from the video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRZdBkK25pY&t=245s
1. Oscar Mason, 2018
"What is the name of that song that steppin on?
Reply
2.
"Song title is Leon Huff, I Ain't Jivin I'm Jammin."
**
3. Askia Sabur, 2019
"Yeeeeeaah West Philly in the Longhouse. Indians boppin for
life."
**
4. Dweight Beverly, 2020
"Silky Smooth...now that's what dancing is.."
**
5. nellybops, 2021
"My grandson tries to teach me all the time but she never has
patience because she’s trying to get down lol! But I will learn how to bop..
And that will include the South Philly bop too! Lol! There is a difference."
-snip-
Here's a summary statement about the Philly Bop from a YouTube video entitled "The Philly Bop Dance at Traveler's Motorcycle Club" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iIZPXFM0Ks&t=18s, published by RaleauSalsa, Jan 15, 2014
"The Philly Bop is the popular signature dance of Philadelphia and is really fun and easy to do. The philly bop originated in the 1920's in the streets of West Philadelphia as a smooth variation of the east coast swing. It features a 6-count step (double step, double step, step-step) and is danced primarily to Motown music. Just about everbody in Philadelphia who's over 40 years old and who grew up in Philly know how to do this dance!"
**** WASHINGTON D.C. HAND DANCINGDeonna Ball, May 10, 2015 National Hand Dance Association ~ NHDA
Song 1 of 4: It's Your World
Song 2 of 4: The Twist
Song 3 of 4: Cool Jerk
Song 4 of 4: Little Richard - album "True Fine Mama" -snip- Here are selected comments from the video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
Nothing like the ole school back in the day bop, etc !!!!!!
💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣🤗🤗🤗😍😍🤩
Had to add this .
I remember back in the day when a couple was on the dance
floor doing the bop or whatever , others would cut in .
Was no big deal , just fun !!
Now days , lord have mercy , you will get shot if you cut in
!!!
No more fun !!!
SMH
I really enjoyed this video 🤗" ** 2. Carole St. louis "👍🏽 love it👏🏽❤️.
Where is this place ? Is it Atlanta?"
** Reply 3.Korin Nicole "Washington DC" ** 4. James Browne "I love the foot movement" ** 5. Barlee "What I wouldn’t give to just watch the oldest and the best during covid! When it comes to hand dancing or any of its relatives, age matters like it does for whisky or wine..." **** Thanks for visiting pancocojams. Visitor comments are welcome.
Here's an excerpt from a 2019 article entitled "Ballroom bosses take to the dance floor with a taste of urban flair" https://www.thecharlottepost.com/news/2019/12/19/arts-and-entertainment/ballroom-bosses-take-to-the-dance-floor-with-a-taste-of-urban-flair/
ReplyDeletePublished Thursday, December 19, 2019 by Herbert L. White | The Charlotte Post
..."Urban ballroom’s dominant styles were launched in the Midwest and eventually spread across the country, with clubs, dances and competitions reminiscent of the early part of the 20th century. It evolved into a 21st century art form by embracing changes in dance tastes and techniques.
“It’s something the African American culture has been doing for years and it has now moved to the South,” said Pickett, a native of Gary, Indiana who grew up on Chicago stepping.
According to Chicago Style Steppers LLP, stepping evolved from the Jitterbug of the 1930s-50s to the Bop and eventually the smoother style of today. According to the organization’s website: “the men and women danced on the opposite foot. The ‘Bop’ was performed in an East to West direction, consisting of two shuffles, a kick and a cross-step in both directions. The exact amount of steps used in the Bop are used in stepping. The difference is the direction of the dance. Stepping is a dance done in a North to South direction.”
[video inserted no longer available]
Detroit ballroom, also called urban ballroom or urban contemporary ballroom, was developed in the 1970s by Capers Tyus, Tyrone Bradley and Linda Harris, who combined bop and ballroom. Michael Tyus, Capers’ younger brother, told the Los Angeles Times in 2012: “They took the old ballroom of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from the ‘20s, ‘30s, and ‘40s” and added elements of “Lindy Hop, bopping, stepping and salsa.
Detroit ballroom uses basic cha-cha steps as its foundation, replaces traditional ballroom’s Latin sound with R&B, blues and even hip-hop. “…
Here's an excerpt from the discussion thread for a video entitled "Chicago Steppin at the Blue Note/ Vernon" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etE_ydG0J2w published by Chicago Steppin w/ Lady Margaret, Oct 2, 2021:
ReplyDeleteAll of these comments are from 2021. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1. Alicia Thornwell, Realtor®
"I think they step better in Chicago. And I’m from Detroit. I ballroom so I was unable to make the switch to step."
**
Reply
2. Atifah Mustafah
"Out of curiosity, what’s the difference?? Both I’m fascinated by, in Brooklyn Ny last I remember the “Hustle”…I love the Chi n Detroit 😉"
**
Reply
3. Alicia Thornwell, Realtor®
" @Atifah Mustafah You mean the difference between ball rooming and stepping? In both dances, there is a “step” involved…a count…that no matter what you’re doing during the dance - you follow that count/step. The count/step is different for both dances. I hope that makes sense. Search “Detroit Ballrooming"...
Here's a comment that may not have been meant to be taken seriously, but still reflects some seriously held opinions:
ReplyDeleteFrom the discussion thread of the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6S9g6ET0K4 "Fatcat and Cookie Detroit style ballroom dancing" published by Detroit8253, Aug 26, 2011
Byron (Fatcat) Hanna and Evelina (Cookie) Warlix Detroit Style ballroom dancing in class. Memphis, TN
Helene Mayer, 2011
"as a detroiter, i take offense at all those who SWEAR BALLROOM OR THE BOP came or originated in Philly or Chi-town...MOTOR CITY could dance a smoke ring around those suckas...>MOTOWN FOREVER will be the Originator, Pimped Out, Suited Up, Croc-Shoe-wearing ORIGINALS.....LOL"