Category Archives: Dance

Oh, no! The dance censors were at it again.

Posted on June 8, 2021 by Austin Gisriel

I don’t know why the keepers of our social mores and the monitors of our general morality were so offended by dancing 100 years ago, but yet another item in the Winchester Star’s “Out of the Past” column demonstrates that … Continue reading →

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Dirty Dancing Outrages U.S. Ambassador

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Austin Gisriel

Yet another most interesting item regarding outrage over the latest dance craze appeared in the “Out of the Past” feature in the February 1st edition of the Winchester Star. Datelined January 26, 1921 from Brussels, it reads: Owing to a … Continue reading →

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Never Do a Tango With an Eskimo

Posted on October 29, 2020 by Austin Gisriel

Today’s entry is a story of discovery, although it’s possible that I’m the last person to discover this particular discovery, namely, the song, “Never Do a Tango With an Eskimo.” I often listen to 1940s Radio, a wonderful Internet station … Continue reading →

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Sophie Tucker

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Austin Gisriel

When last we spoke in this blog, I stated that I would return to the subject of Sophie Tucker. As I had mentioned, Sophie had been arrested for singing bawdy dance songs such as “The Grizzly Bear” and the “Angle … Continue reading →

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The Devil on the Dance Floor Once More

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Austin Gisriel

The folks who lived 100 years ago, at least the ones who considered themselves keepers of the community standards, cast a very disapproving eye on dancing. In a January entry of this blog, I noted that the Winchester Star ran … Continue reading →

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Friends, Post Cards, and Special Nights

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Austin Gisriel

As you know, the Valencia Ballroom appears on the cover of Swing Time and plays a prominent role in the story. It occurred to me recently to search for old photos of the place, and sure enough, there were several … Continue reading →

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Swing Time, A New Novella, Now Available!

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Austin Gisriel

As a writer, I am always encouraged when people ask, “When’s the next book coming out?” which, I’m happy to say, I’ve been asked several times recently. I’m also happy to have an answer. Swing Time: A Swing Dancing, Time … Continue reading →

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Dirty Dancing Update

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Austin Gisriel

You may remember a post from January titled, “Oh, that dirty dancing from the ’20s,” in which I discussed how 100 years ago, American dance masters were anxious to rid dancing of “vulgar music,” as well as moves such as … Continue reading →

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Oh, that dirty dancing from the ’20s

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Austin Gisriel

There was scandal on the dance floor 100 years ago. The half-nelson, body hold, and shimmy lock were outraging dance masters to the point that some were enlisting, not only the aide of mothers and hostesses, but of local police … Continue reading →

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Vulgar Dancing at the Virginia Military Institute

Posted on July 5, 2019 by Austin Gisriel

One’s imagination is stirred considerably by a fascinating clip from the “Out of the Past” section of the July 1, 2019 Winchester Star, which relates the story of the Virginia Military Institute’s final ball in 1919. It seems that on … Continue reading →

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