Black Bottom (dance)
Encyclopedia
Black Bottom refers to a dance
. which became popular in the 1920s, during the period known as the Flapper
era.
The dance originated in New Orleans in the 1900s. The theatrical show Dinah brought the Black Bottom dance to New York
in 1924, and the George White's Scandals
featured it at the Apollo Theater
in Harlem 1926 through 1927 where it was introduced by dancer Ann Pennington
. Jelly Roll Morton
, jazz player and composer, wrote the tune "Black Bottom Stomp
" with its name referring to Detroit
’s Black Bottom
area. The dance became a sensation and ended up overtaking the popularity of the Charleston
, eventually becoming the number one social dance.
“The Original Black Bottom Dance” was printed in 1919. It came from an earlier dance called “Jacksonville Rounders’ Dance” printed in 1907. The word “Rounder” was a synonym for “pimp
”. Both “dance-songs” were written by black pianist/composer/dancer Perry Bradford
http://jass.com/lonesome.html and were based on a dance done in Jacksonville, Florida
“way back”. One professional dancer stated, “That dance is as old as the hills.” The dance was well known among semi-rural blacks across the South
. A similar dance with many variations had been commonly used in tent show performances, and "Bradford and Jeanette" had used it as a finale. The dance was featured in the Harlem
show Dinah in 1924, and then “The Scandals of 1926", whereupon it became a national craze.
Bradford’s version printed along with the sheet music
Instructions for the Mooch are “Shuffle forward with both feet. Hips go first, then feet.”
The rhythm of the Black Bottom is based on the Charleston.
"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" is a song by Ma Rainey
which makes obvious allusions rather than being dance music. The title Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
was used for a 1982 play by August Wilson
, showing the exploits and experiences of African-Americans.
The comedy musician Spike Jones
who became popular in the 1940s performed a jaunty cover of the "Black Bottom". His version released on 78 RPM records
repeated a single measure of a piano solo in the middle of the song several times, each time continuing with a loud "crack!" as a joke to make the record sound broken.
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
. which became popular in the 1920s, during the period known as the Flapper
Flapper
Flapper in the 1920s was a term applied to a "new breed" of young Western women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to jazz, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behavior...
era.
The dance originated in New Orleans in the 1900s. The theatrical show Dinah brought the Black Bottom dance to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1924, and the George White's Scandals
George White's Scandals
George White's Scandals were a long-running string of Broadway revues produced by George White that ran from 1919–1939, modelled after the Ziegfeld Follies. The "Scandals" launched the careers of many entertainers, including W.C. Fields, the Three Stooges, Ray Bolger, Helen Morgan, Ethel Merman, ...
featured it at the Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
in Harlem 1926 through 1927 where it was introduced by dancer Ann Pennington
Ann Pennington (Ziegfeld star)
This article is about Ann Pennington, the stage actress. For the Playboy model of the same name, go to Ann Pennington .Ann Pennington was an actress, dancer, and singer who starred on Broadway in the 1910s and 1920s, notably in the Ziegfeld Follies and George White's Scandals.She became famous for...
. Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
, jazz player and composer, wrote the tune "Black Bottom Stomp
Black bottom stomp
"Black Bottom Stomp" is a jazz composition. It was composed by Jelly Roll Morton in 1925 and was originally entitled "Queen of Spades". It was recorded in Chicago by Morton and His Red Hot Peppers, for Victor Records on September 15, 1926.-Technique:...
" with its name referring to Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
’s Black Bottom
Black Bottom, Detroit
Black Bottom was a predominantly black neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan, that was demolished for redevelopment in the early 1960s. It was replaced with Lafayette Park. It was located on Detroit's near East side bounded by Gratiot Avenue, Brush Street, Vernor Highway, and the Grand Trunk railroad...
area. The dance became a sensation and ended up overtaking the popularity of the Charleston
Charleston (dance)
The Charleston is a dance named for the harbor city of Charleston, South Carolina. The rhythm was popularized in mainstream dance music in the United States by a 1923 tune called "The Charleston" by composer/pianist James P. Johnson which originated in the Broadway show Runnin' Wild and became one...
, eventually becoming the number one social dance.
“The Original Black Bottom Dance” was printed in 1919. It came from an earlier dance called “Jacksonville Rounders’ Dance” printed in 1907. The word “Rounder” was a synonym for “pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
”. Both “dance-songs” were written by black pianist/composer/dancer Perry Bradford
Perry Bradford
Perry Bradford was an African American composer, songwriter, and vaudeville performer....
http://jass.com/lonesome.html and were based on a dance done in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
“way back”. One professional dancer stated, “That dance is as old as the hills.” The dance was well known among semi-rural blacks across the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. A similar dance with many variations had been commonly used in tent show performances, and "Bradford and Jeanette" had used it as a finale. The dance was featured in the Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
show Dinah in 1924, and then “The Scandals of 1926", whereupon it became a national craze.
Bradford’s version printed along with the sheet music
- Hop down front then Doodle back, (Doodle means slide)
- Mooch to your left then Mooch to the right
- Hands on your hips and do the Mess Around,
- Break a Leg until you’re near the ground (Break a Leg is a hobbling step)
- Now that’s the Old Black Bottom Dance
Instructions for the Mooch are “Shuffle forward with both feet. Hips go first, then feet.”
The rhythm of the Black Bottom is based on the Charleston.
"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" is a song by Ma Rainey
Ma Rainey
Ma Rainey was one of the earliest known American professional blues singers and one of the first generation of such singers to record. She was billed as The Mother of the Blues....
which makes obvious allusions rather than being dance music. The title Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a 1982 play - one of the ten-play Pittsburgh Cycle by August Wilson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright - that chronicles the twentieth century African American experience...
was used for a 1982 play by August Wilson
August Wilson
August Wilson was an American playwright whose work included a series of ten plays, The Pittsburgh Cycle, for which he received two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama...
, showing the exploits and experiences of African-Americans.
The comedy musician Spike Jones
Spike Jones
Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and other Warner Brothers cartoon characters, performed a drunken, hiccuping verse for 1942's "Clink! Clink! Another Drink"...
who became popular in the 1940s performed a jaunty cover of the "Black Bottom". His version released on 78 RPM records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
repeated a single measure of a piano solo in the middle of the song several times, each time continuing with a loud "crack!" as a joke to make the record sound broken.
External links
- http://www.iath.virginia.edu/utc/songs/crazytunef.html - This 1926 song uses "Black Bottom" as a theme.
- http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/introjs.htm?/~acsa/songfile/CRAZYWOR.HTM - variant lyrics on the citation above.