Dances we used to do when we were kids

[pygmalion]

In the middle of one night this weekend, d nice and I had an interesting conversation about the bop, a dance I used to do as a very little kid. That got me wondering, how many cool dances are out there that we know about? Not the standard swing or foxtrot or salsa-type dances. The dances that we did when we were kids -- the ones that lasted a few weeks, or months, or were only in one region, or "went with" a particular song.

(I can think of a few -- the funky broadway by James Brown, for example)

Please share. If you can describe the dance, region, music or time period, even better.

But if all you have is a name, still please share.

[youngsta]

I love this topic! Ok, let's see:

The Wop - Little side-to-side head movement you could freak out with a little footwork or bending it over

The Smurf and the FILA - Still thinking on how to describe them :lol:

The Humpty Hump - Listen to the song, Humpty describes the dance

The Bump - and bump hips to the right, and bump hips to the left. So many ways to freak the bump out.

Tootsie Roll - to the left to the left, to the right to the right, to the front to the front, to the back to the back, now slide baby slide - slide baby slide!

[pygmalion]

Oh yes. I still do the bump (learned that one from my big brother!).

I just add it into a WCS basic. When the guy brings you in on a basic, come all the way in and add a little hip bump before you go back out. Fun!

[Spitfire]

As a kid I was not into dancing at all, but I recall my first grade teacher having us do the Hokey Pokey and later in 4th and 5th grades the teacher having us do square dancing. Most of us boys didn't like it including me, but I think most of the girls did.

[pygmalion]

Oh! You poor thing!

I grew up in a house full of amateur dancers, and that's why I'm dancing today. (Because they laughed at me, and I have a big chip on my shoulder and something to prove)

My older brother and sisters did

the bump
the mickey's monkey
the funky chicken
the swim
the frug
the funky broadway
the twist
the tighten up
the bop


and a bunch of stuff I don't even remember, but I'll call my big sister and ask!

[MissAlyssa]

funky chicken
humpty dance
electric slide
roger rabbit
running man
cabbage patch
tootsie roll
butterfly
the twist

[SDsalsaguy]

I wish it were otherwise, but I grew up in the "wouldn't be caught dead" dancing camp... Almost outgrew it at camp one summer with some folk dancing but my girlfriend at the time was even less dance minded then I...

[d nice]

Pretty much all the ones mentioned above, add to it the MC Hammer (or jackhammer), charlie brown, snoopy, pac-man, wow so many...

Are we only includin the ones that we no longer do?

[pygmalion]

Hey. Wait a minute! Did anybody mention the freak? (As in c'est chic)
I still do this one, when I'm out club freestyle dirty dancing.

Both hands in the air, and gyrate your middle as suggestively as possible. Lots of fun for boys and girls. :lol:

[Vince A]

Both hands in the air, and gyrate your middle as suggestively as possible. Lots of fun for boys and girls. :lol:
Thanks for "getting the blood moving" so early this morning!!!"

[pygmalion]

Actually, when the freak came out, in the late seventies, my youth minister gave sermons about the evils of that dance. Then of course all we kids had to go try it. Guess his advice didn't stick too well. :lol:

[d nice]

That pretty common. C Walk, the Push, Freak, Twist, Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, Charleston, and even on down to Viennese Waltz were all considered evil and contributors to the deliquincey and moral decay.

[Spitfire]

All hail to our "evil"! :tongue:

[MissAlyssa]

if dancing is evil, call me la diabla :twisted:

[Phil Owl]

I too was in the "Wouldn't Be Caught Dead Dancing" camp as a youth, but in my teenage years, I started to think different. Dancing did eventually help me get out of my shell.

[Spitfire]

Back about 1972 there was a dance known as the Robot; never saw it done, but there was a hit song that year in regards to it.

[pygmalion]

Man, Spitfire, I had forgotten all about the robot.

You know what kills me? One day, people like d nice and SDSalsaguy will be studying stuff like this. I find that humorous, for some reason. Either way, we've got the goods.

Yup. The robot was definitely a stand-alone dance. I had friends in middle school, high school, and (sadly) college, who did this dance regularly. They attributed it to Michael Jackson, but I don't think MJ invented it.

Either way, good addition to the list. :D

While we're talking about this, I can't spell them, but are the boogaloo, and the watoosi actually dances, or just something referred to in various songs? Hmmm. Inquiring minds want to know.

[dancersdreamland]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to the group, but had to jump into this post as I LOVE remembering childhood...I don't think this one has been posted yet, and it's not exactly a "dance-dance," but I had to list it anyway: the hokey pokey! You know, that silly little dance where you stand in a circle and continually stick a miscellaneous part of your body into the center and shake it about.

"You put your right arm in. You put your right arm out. You put your right arm in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around...that's what it's all about."

I think the actual "hokey pokey" part of the dance is kind of like shaking "spirit fingers" close to the sides of your face...if that make sense.

Well...just had to add it.

Ooh...just thought of one more...even more hokey (no pun intended :wink:)...The Macarena!

[pygmalion]

Welcome, dancersdreamland.

Yes, oh yes. The hokey pokey is definitely a dance.

Welcome to the forums. Glad you made a post! Really glad.

Remembering childhood is cool, isn't it? Made all the difference to me; of course some of the songs I remember are too embarrassing to post, but what the heck! I'll post the G-rated ones!


Welcome to you!
:D :D :D :D

Jenn

[Spitfire]

Man, Spitfire, I had forgotten all about the robot.

You know what kills me? One day, people like d nice and SDSalsaguy will be studying stuff like this. I find that humorous, for some reason. Either way, we've got the goods.

Yup. The robot was definitely a stand-alone dance. I had friends in middle school, high school, and (sadly) college, who did this dance regularly. They attributed it to Michael Jackson, but I don't think MJ invented it.

Either way, good addition to the list. :D

While we're talking about this, I can't spell them, but are the boogaloo, and the watoosi actually dances, or just something referred to in various songs? Hmmm. Inquiring minds want to know.

The Boogaloo and Watusi were actual dances from the 1960's as far as I know, but have no idea of how they were done. Getting back to the Robot I don't recall the artist(s) who did the song, but it was certainly not a Michael Jackson creation.

[Spitfire]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to the group, but had to jump into this post as I LOVE remembering childhood...I don't think this one has been posted yet, and it's not exactly a "dance-dance," but I had to list it anyway: the hokey pokey! You know, that silly little dance where you stand in a circle and continually stick a miscellaneous part of your body into the center and shake it about.

"You put your right arm in. You put your right arm out. You put your right arm in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around...that's what it's all about."

I think the actual "hokey pokey" part of the dance is kind of like shaking "spirit fingers" close to the sides of your face...if that make sense.

Well...just had to add it.

Ooh...just thought of one more...even more hokey (no pun intended :wink:)...The Macarena!

Welcome dancersdreamland, :D

I did mention the Hokey Pokey earlier; my first grade teacher had us do it.

[dancersdreamland]

Just saw "running man" on another board...can't remember who posted it, but I thought it should be mentioned here. Along with it...the roger rabbit.

[MissAlyssa]

HOKEY POKEYYYYYYYY!!

[dancersdreamland]

I feel in regard to hokey pokey, this MUST be noted: hokey pokey is so much more fun on roller skates in a stinky roller rink with lots of people wiggling around and trying to keep balance...it makes it even more of a dance! :P

[MissAlyssa]

Oh yea! That's the first place I actually ever saw the hokey pokey. It's pretty challenging to get on one foot in rollerskates and shake it all around lol.

[suek]

anyone mention the mashed potato?

oh god i'm so old!

[suek]

or the bunny hop?

[suek]

or the peppermint twist? (joey dee and the starliters, 1963ish)

[Spitfire]

or the peppermint twist? (joey dee and the starliters, 1963ish)

I remember those songs, but again never saw those dances.

[dancersdreamland]

Anyone kn ow how to do the "locomotion"?

[youngsta]

:shock: I like to only think about NEW Kylie :D

[pygmalion]

anyone mention the mashed potato?

oh god i'm so old!

Sue K! Shame on you! Old is a frame of mind, that's all. Just a frame of mind. :D

[MissAlyssa]

Old is also comparison. I'm OLD compared to my bf's kids! :P

[dancersdreamland]

You're only as old as you act and I try to act as young as possible...without going overboard. :tongue:

[MissAlyssa]

I know you have probably already posted it but...how old are you?

[dancersdreamland]

23...almost 24.

[MissAlyssa]

oh well that's not old!

[dancersdreamland]

Thanks...previous posts not meant to imply I thought I was old. Just thought I'd pass along some tips on staying young. :P

[MissAlyssa]

:D

[pygmalion]

Check this out! Kathy Blake also has instructional videos:

Party Dances 1950: Twist, Stroll, and Rock N Roll
Party Dances 1960: Mashed Potato, Frug, Swim, Monkey, Pony, and go-go Dancing

For all those of us on a nostalgia trip! :D

[dancersdreamland]

Ooh...how fun!

[MissAlyssa]

Frug? :shock:

[SDsalsaguy]

Frug? :shock:
Don't worry Alyssa, it isn't dirty... unless you do it in the mud! :lol:

[SwinginBoo]

The Kid 'n' Play

[dancersdreamland]

Kris Kross's "Jump Jump" - basically jumping up and down with all your baggy clothes and baseball cap on backwards...

Not entirely sure what made me think of that?

[pygmalion]

Hey. When that video was out, a lot of people used to do that jumping up and down move. Not sure if was an actual dance, though. But to each his own! :D

Off topic: How are the wedding plans coming?

[bouncybouncyweee]

YAY ELECTRIC SLIDE!
And the YMCA
and and...
hand jive! WEEEEE
:bouncy:

[dancersdreamland]

Can't remember if this was already named...my apologies if this is a dual posting: the funky chicken!!