Parker’s Performance Playbook – On Dancing

Happy Monday, Encore readers! Yesterday we finished our first weekend of The Twelve Dancing Princesses at Thomas Jefferson Community Theater. Tickets are still available for the second weekend of shows, so grab them now!

In honor of the show, I want to talk about the history of social dancing for today’s edition of Parker’s Performance Playbook. 

People have been dancing throughout the history of the world. It is a common expression of emotion as well as an art form. But social dancing became common in the Baroque era (1600-1750’s) in Europe as a way to prove social status. Members of the court, or people with high status in society, learned special choreographed dances as part of their education and would show off their skills at balls and dances. It was a way to prove the refinement of your family and education. 

Those outside of that community had their own dancing culture, too. People who lived in the country and were far from the palaces where high society was dancing began hosting country dances and creating their own popular choreography. These dances sometimes made their way to those beautiful palaces when members of the court became bored of the dances they already knew. In that era, social dances were also a way to meet new people and speak privately with people because it was difficult to do that in the day-to-day life of that society. 

As music changed throughout the eras, so did the popular dances. With Ragtime music came the cakewalk and the turkey trot. Then swing style jazz brought swing dancing like the Lindy Hop. Just look at today’s music and dance! Social media has made finding new music easier than ever before, and dance trends move quicker than it has ever been possible. We may not have the same culture of partner dancing, but thanks to TikTok we have trending songs and viral dances that reach far and wide. 

If you’re ready to learn some new moves, we have upcoming classes and camps that incorporate song and dance. Registration for winter classes and summer camp is open now!

Photos by Cindy Kane. Blog contribution by Parker Nelson.

Parker’s Performance Playbook – On Dancing

Encore Stage & Studio

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